Academic term
In most countries, the academic year begins in late summer or early autumn and ends during the following spring or summer. In Northern Hemisphere countries, this means that the academic year lasts from August, September, or October to May, June, or July. In Southern Hemisphere countries, the academic year aligns with the calendar year, lasting from February or March to November or December. The summer may or may not be part of the term system.
Education in Hamburg
In October 2009, the Hamburg Parliament voted for an act to change this system with the start of the educational year 2010/11. The "Grundschule"—primary school of 4 years education from the age of 6 to 10—would be changed into a "Primärschule" (lit. primary school), lasting 6 years. This would be followed by a so-called location or quarter school () with certificates, like the Abitur after 13 years of education. The Gymnasium will offer the Abitur after 12 years. Pupils could enter the "Stadteilschule" or the "Gymnasium". Parents would no longer be allowed to choose if their child should apply for a Gymnasium. Only those children whose primary school teachers state that the child would make a successful transition into a Gymnasium would be allowed to apply. The act also states that no more than 25 pupils are allowed in classes of the primary school, 20 in so-called difficult quarters, and not more than 28 in a "Gymnasium" class. This decision was criticized by factions of the SPD and The Left.