An independent Gymnasium

The Gymnasium is one out of two types of secondary education giving access to Universities (VWO = Voortgezet Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs). Beekvliet is an independent Gymnasium. All pupils attend classes in Latin and Greek in the first three years and have an option of Latin and/or Greek for their final examinations. During the first three years all pupils are offered the same programme. This programme meets the requirements of 'basisvorming' (= basic education), but takes place Gymnasium Level.
The fourth form marks the beginning of the "tweede fase" (= second phase). Pupils then have to choose from 2 'streams': Nature or Society. Afterwards their choice is fine-tuned to one of four possible 'profiles' giving access to studies at University or 'Hogeschool' (= Higher Professional Education). The Gymnasium is a specialized school for those pupils who can achieve more and are prepared to invest more of their energy to do so.
The 'tweede fase' also offers the opportunity to take on extra subjects or to combine subjects related to different 'profiles'.