What is the outcome of the Netherlands meeting?

Our proposal for a European Secondary Education System

At the Comenius Students Conference 30 March – 6 April 2011 we compared the different education systems of the involved nationalities (UK, Fr, D, It, Nl).

We have discussed the following themes:

·      Subjects

·      Tests

·      Level of education

·      A day at school

·      Dress code

·      Ways of learning:

     Computer learning

     Independent learning

     Class learning

     Books

     Projects 

Common Framework for European Education (CFEE)

There is a combination of Basic Education (primary education) and Middle Education in one building. Middle Education has different teachers for different subjects.

If a student has a result above average, he/she has, in the first two years of secondary education, the possibility to change level between High, Middle, Low.

There will be different buildings for levels (H, M, L together) and practicals.

Portfolios will be a part of the evaluation (P).

Tests

There will be a test and an evaluation of the portfolio (T+P), before starting secondary education to set levels.

Tests at set times in school year (the school year is divided in 4 periods, at the end of each period there will be tests for compulsory subjects).

Practice Exams at the end of course / stage of education

Compulsory Subjects

Languages:   English (international language)

                     Own language (if English choose another language)

                     Third language – depends on school / country

Maths

History         Local, National, European, World

Science

PE / Sports

Information Technology (IT)

Optional Subjects

They are choosen at 12 years old and include Art, Music, Social Studies,

D.T., R.S. etc

Uniform and dress code

Uniform is compulsory in primary education (according to the traditions / country)

No uniform in secondary education but a dress code is adopted.

Learning styles

Use of IT – access to education sites including You Tube but not Facebook etc.

Independent learning increasing as you get older (20% to 50% or more).

Variety of learning including class / group and project work.

Use and availability of computers and books

Individual student laptops.

Ideal school day

Lessons to last one hour.

6 lessons a day.

No double lessons.

After 2 lessons there is a break.

Lunch break depends on country / school.

End of the day depends on breaks given during the day.

School holidays

13 weeks a year.

Holidays depend on country (weather / traditions etc)

Tutors / tutorials

 All students to have personal tutors for support etc.

Work experience

Compulsory to the curriculum but set to countries own rules.

When and where are we going to meet?

THE NETHERLANDS - BAKKEVEEN - 30th MARCH / 6th APRIL 2011

Quindici studenti delle classi 3CLT e 4BLT, accompagnati dalle professoresse Luisella Mori e Mariliana Salvini, e dall’assistente Comenius Katharina Kilian, hanno trascorso una settimana presso il centro conferenze Nieuw Allardsoog di Bakkeveen, in Frisia, per discutere con i loro coetanei olandesi, inglesi, francesi e tedeschi dei sistemi educativi dei loro paesi nell’ambito del progetto Comenius “Education in Europe”. Lavorando in gruppi internazionali, hanno confrontato i loro sistemi scolastici e cercato di elaborare una proposta per una scuola europea.

L’istituto capofila, il Montessori College di Leeuwarden, ha inoltre organizzato una visita guidata del proprio plesso, dove gli studenti hanno potuto assistere a varie lezioni in lingua inglese, nonché della Stenden University, istituto internazionale di livello universitario dove gli studenti lavorano utilizzando principalmente la metodologia del PBL, Problem Based Learning, che i partecipanti al meeting hanno potuto sperimentare in prima persona in piccoli gruppi guidati da un tutor.

Non sono mancati i momenti di svago, con attività sportive e giochi a squadre, visite guidate al museo Van Gogh e al Rijksmuseum di Amsterdam, nonché alla cittadina di Hindelhoopen, un tempo residenza prediletta dai capitani dei principali porti olandesi e oggi sede di un piccolo museo dedicato al pattinaggio sul ghiaccio.

What is our project about?

COMENIUS PROJECT – EDUCATION IN EUROPE

2010-2012

The participating schools are located in Leeuwarden (Netherlands), Redruth (UK), Angers (France), Halle (Germany), Pontedera (Italy).

The 1998 European Convention of Human Rights Act guarantees the “Right to Education”, in order to prevent social exclusion and discrimination. The project Education Systems in Europe gives young people the opportunity to:

• Broaden their understanding of European education systems, culture and language.

• Gain a deeper insight into future opportunities they may have for education and employment.

• Prepare them to become European citizens, with an understanding for diversity and inclusion.

• Improve their linguistic skills by communicating in a foreign language.

• Visit other countries and learn about their culture and life style.

• Develop ICT skills and other communication forms.

Students will investigate and compare education systems, gaining an insight into the differences and similarities available throughout Europe, thus comprehending the complex construction of European Education. Our students will have the freedom and opportunity to study in any educational establishment within the EU. An increasing number of our students will find themselves studying and working in other countries and will profit from experiences gained in Comenius activities.

Initially students will research their own education system and inform the students of the partner schools by publishing their results on our Twinspace. In April 2011, during the project meeting which will be held in Leeuwarden , in the Netherlands, each national group will present the result of their investigation. The students will compare their results and evaluate the first year of the project. During the meeting, students and teachers will get the chance to visit the school and take part in some lessons. The Dutch school is a Montessori bilingual school (EIO) and is on the way to become a school with an international signature (ELOS).

In the 2nd year students will compare and evaluate the results of the 1st year. They will work as a team to develop the idea of an “Ideal European School” which can be presented to the regional, national and European governments. At the end of the second year, in April 2012, a project conference will be held in Angers, France, during which national groups will present their project work and international groups will discuss their proposals for an ideal European education system.