Education Policy in Cologne – What Was Decided in April 2026

Education Policy in Cologne: Expansion, Reduction, and New Offerings

Cologne's education policy is operating amid a wide range of challenges: rising student numbers, outdated buildings, and a growing need for inclusive and more flexible teaching. In April 2026, several fundamental decisions were made in the Committee for Schools and Further Education. These range from the expansion of grammar schools, the closure of primary school tracks, to the introduction of new music offerings. Below, we analyze the most important developments.

Expansion of Grammar School Infrastructure

A central focus was the expansion of grammar school development. The Friedrich-Wilhelm-Gymnasium received a new branch campus at Georgstraße 9–13 in Altstadt-Süd, which will be used starting with the school year 2026/2027. This is part of the plan to increase capacity to four tracks in secondary level I and six tracks in secondary level II. The city of Cologne plans to have the new location approved under § 81 III of the North Rhine-Westphalia School Act.

Also decided was the rental of a modular building for the Erich-Kästner-Gymnasium in Nippes, to be used for four years starting in 2027/2028. The cost for this modular building amounts to approximately 2.8 million euros, including renovation measures. The administration justifies this action by stating that the existing school site cannot be expanded while operations are ongoing.

Reduction of Primary School Capacities

At the same time, the Community Primary School Bilderstöckchen (GHS) will be gradually phased out. Starting with the school year 2027/2028, the number of tracks will be reduced from 3.5 to 2 tracks, and it is being evaluated whether the location might in the future only have one track. The decision is based on declining enrollment numbers and the expectation that fewer capacities will be needed in the future.

In addition, it is being examined how the primary school offerings in the districts of Nippes and Ehrenfeld can be consolidated. A potential new location could be the Overbeckstraße in Neuehrenfeld, where sufficient capacity is already available. The school development planning aims for a regionally balanced distribution, even though the city of Cologne is forgoing coordination with neighboring school providers in this case.

New Offerings at the Rheinische Musikschule (Rhine Music School)

The Rhine Music School is not only receiving a new fee regulation but also an updated educational offering. Starting from June 1, 2026, the new fee regulation will come into effect, which includes reduced fees for people with disabilities and binding cancellation deadlines for 10-lesson cards. In addition, online lessons will become chargeable in the future, which will further advance the digitization of the music school.

Two new programs have been launched: the „Musik Kompass“ for elementary school children and the „Chor Card“ for adults aged 30 to 45. Both programs are focused on group offerings and aim to promote participation in cultural educational opportunities. In addition, combined lessons will be discontinued, and a repetition fee in dance lessons will be introduced.

Funding and Budget Planning

The decided measures also have an impact on the financial planning of the city of Cologne. For the grammar schools, an annual additional burden of around 707,000 euros is expected, composed of the rent for the modular building and additional ancillary costs. The costs will be covered by the Economic Plan of the Building Economy, which shows that school development remains a municipal statutory responsibility and continues to have financial priority.

In addition, the setup costs of the modular building are estimated at around 310,000 euros, with a large part to be financed from the 2027 fiscal year. The investment costs for the modular building will be financed from 2028 onwards through depreciation.

Outlook

Education policy in Cologne is in a phase of transition. While grammar schools are being expanded and new infrastructures are being created, primary schools must adapt to their new role in the school spectrum. At the same time, the music school is being strengthened as a central actor in cultural education. The challenges lie not only in financing, but also in the design of a school landscape that can respond to both future prospects and current needs.

In the coming months, it will be crucial how well the parent and school development work functions. Only through early communication and transparent planning can trust in the city's education policy be built.