Bocholt draws up new school development plan

The city of Bocholt is issuing a prompt invitation to tender for professional support in the preparation of new school development plans. As a municipal school authority, the city is obliged under the NRW Education Act to regularly submit a harmonised plan.

It includes a detailed forecast of pupil numbers and forms the basis for all school organisation decisions - from the number and type of schools to the number of classes, room requirements and room standards. The last update was politically approved in 2022 and the next revision is now due.

To this end, political participation took place at an early stage in the form of a survey of specific topics and issues among the parliamentary groups. Following an announcement in the school committee on Tuesday, 16 September, a qualified specialist planning office is now to be commissioned with the update in the near future. Initial results are expected by mid-2026.

As part of the planning, pupil number forecasts will be updated and the capacities of all school types in Bocholt will be reviewed. The results of the new school development plan should provide politicians and administrators with a sound basis for deciding on the future direction of Bocholt's school landscape.

The reassessment was also prompted by current developments: The neighbouring town of Rhede, for example, has decided to no longer admit Bocholt pupils to its comprehensive school if there are surplus enrolments; the existing and any necessary comprehensive school capacities should therefore also be considered and evaluated against this background.

In addition to the question of comprehensive school places, the primary school supply in the city area and the structural requirements due to the legal entitlement to all-day care in the primary sector from 2026/2027 will also be considered in detail.