Tailored education in secondary education.

Benefits of tailored education in secondary school

No student is the same. This means that students’ needs can vary a lot. Tailored education in secondary school gives room to deviate from the standard program. Students can develop their talents and personal qualities at their own pace. This can have a positive effect on students’ motivation. By offering tailored education, schools can also reduce the number of students who repeat a year.

Options for tailored education in secondary school

Current education already offers many ways to deviate from standard programs. Students can take subjects at another level, finish some subjects faster or slower, and spend more or fewer hours on a subject. The school decides if and how tailoring is possible. Parents can discuss this with the school.

Tailored education diploma

It is possible to take exams in one or more subjects at a higher level. The school must agree. The diploma then states that the subject was completed at a higher level. For example, a vmbo-tl student gets a vmbo-tl diploma that says the English subject was finished at havo level. It is harder to take a subject at a lower level. This is only possible for an extra subject. For example, a practical or vocational subject at havo level.

More or fewer lesson hours

A student does not have to follow the set hours for all subjects. The hours can be more or less. However, there is a minimum number of hours per education, called the hour standard. The school must make sure a student follows a program that meets this minimum. How these hours are divided among subjects is up to the school and can differ per grade and student.

Taking exams

Students take exams in the required subjects for their education. On top of that, they can take exams in extra subjects. These extra subjects count in the final exam result. It is not possible to take exams in fewer subjects. In special cases, students can take spread out exams. A student can also take exams earlier in a subject (accelerated exams). For example, finish the math exam in 4 havo.

Plus document

A plus document lists the (social) skills and extra activities of a student outside the regular program. It may state that a student was in the student council or took extra subjects. A plus document is not required, but more schools are using it. The school decides how it looks and what it lists. Students get the plus document when they leave school.