As a lower secondary school, the Oberschule comprises grades 5 to 10 and is an inclusive school. It can be run with or without a grammar school. Teaching can be organized according to the school's decision within the framework of the specifications

• year-related (in school years 5 and 6),
• year-related in conjunction with subject differentiation at two or three levels of difficulty in the core subjects German, mathematics and English, or
• predominantly school branch-related (more than 50% of lessons are taught according to school form)

are taught.

The gymnasium program of a secondary school should be predominantly school branch-related from the 7th school year onwards and must be predominantly school branch-related from the 9th school year onwards.

Year-based teaching means that pupils are taught together as a class. Predominantly branch-based teaching means that pupils can be taught in separate school branches (Hauptschule branch, Realschule branch, possibly Gymnasium branch) or that teaching in non-gymnasium classes is predominantly school-based.

The aim of the Oberschule is to provide pupils with a basic, extended or in-depth general education and to enable them to specialize according to their abilities and inclinations. The secondary school strengthens basic skills, independent learning and promotes social learning in the classroom and through a shared school life. At the secondary school, pupils should acquire the qualifications that will enable them to continue their education in a vocational or academic context.

In years 9 and 10, the secondary school offers a practical vocational focus with measures for career guidance and vocational training, the profiles foreign languages, economics, technology and health and social affairs, as well as preparation for attending the upper secondary school (gymnasiale Oberstufe).

At the end of year 9, students at the secondary school can obtain the Hauptschulabschluss and the Förderschule certificate with a focus on learning.

The following qualifications can be obtained at the end of year 10:

• Secondary school leaving certificate I - Hauptschulabschluss
• Secondary school leaving certificate I - Realschulabschluss
• Extended secondary school leaving certificate I, which entitles the holder to attend the upper secondary level at a grammar school, a comprehensive school or a vocational grammar school at a vocational school.

A secondary school can be run as an open, partially bound or fully bound all-day school.