Second Phase

The second phase is the name of a – mainly – didactic adaptation of the education in the bovenbouw of HAVO/VWO. Originally developed to make the transfer to University/HBO a smoother one of the first changes made was that in the unchecked growth of subject packages. It provides a choice of examination subjects with in the four so-called ‘profiles’ which give access to specific studies in higher education. Also the final examinations are organized differently. In the course of time the notion that – for a successful career at University of HBO – it is essential that pupils develop skills which enable them to study independently of others and be responsible for the progress they make, has become widely supported. The School Examination – an important part of the Final Examinations – therefore is not concentrated in the final school year but more or less evenly distributed among the 4th, 5th and 6th years. A certain number of subjects have their final tests at the end of the fourth year.
The number of subjects and partial subjects from which pupils can make their choice has been expanded, whereas the presentation of the subject-matter pays special attention to such aspects as Skill Development, Self Reliance, Group Work and Presentation Techniques.
The school’s timetable includes so-called ´B-hours´. Pupils of the 4th, 5th and 6th forms have on compulsory hour each per day. The time is used to work on their tasks. Various areas in the school are designed to host pupils who want to work in a quiet ¨library-like¨ atmosphere, other rooms are available for group work or practical tests. Teachers of various disciplines are always at hand to be consulted by pupils. It is no surprise that Information and Communication Technology plays an increasingly important role. Teachers and books are no longer the unique source of knowledge. New ICT facilities have been installed to facilitate this process.
At the end of the 3rd form pupils have to choose their ´stream´: Physics, Social Studies or Culture & Society. At the end of the 4th form this choice is further refined by choosing a certain profile (= a set of subjects, focused on future studies).
The amount of time available to pupils in the Second Phase of our school is defined in SLUs (StudieLastUren = number of hours needed to finish assignments). They form the expected time pupils will need to successfully conclude their final exams for a set combination of subjects during the final three years. Gymnasium Studies the SLUs are set at 4800 hours.