Secondary Physical Education
Physical Education at the secondary level of the European School The Hague aims to develop confident, healthy, and socially responsible students who value physical activity as a lifelong part of their lives. Through a safe, structured, and varied programme, students build physical competence, resilience, and a positive relationship with movement that supports their wellbeing and their role as active citizens.
Our curriculum offers a broad and culturally rich range of sports, integrating European, international, and local sporting traditions. This diversity supports students in developing their own sports identity while strengthening teamwork, communication, initiative, and leadership skills.
Learning in Physical Education extends beyond performance. Students are encouraged to reflect on health, motivation, and cooperation, and to take responsibility for their own participation and development. Guided by the principles of Self-Determination Theory - which emphasises autonomy, competence, and relatedness - learning is supported through clear goals, regular feedback, and fair assessment that values both physical performance and personal engagement. This concept reaches its full potential in the Orientation Cycle, where students can choose between different sports every four weeks. In doing so, they literally shape their own (physical) education.
In addition, we maintain strong partnerships with local sports clubs and community organisations, creating clear pathways for participation beyond school. By connecting school-based learning with involvement in external sporting events, we empower students to become engaged members of both the local and European active community. When a student excels in a specific sport, we encourage them to join a local club and provide specific recommendations. We also make sure to share this achievement with both their parents and mentor to compliment their progress.
Sports Advanced
Sports Advanced is an optional complementary course for S6 and S7 students that builds on physical education by combining training, health education (wellness and nutrition), leadership, specialised sports (e.g. rugby, golf), and professional orientation (e.g. stunt work, physical therapy, sports journalism).
Students develop practical and theoretical understanding, take responsibility for leading and instructing others, and explore sports-related study and career pathways. The programme places sport within a European and international context, with an emphasis on respect, cooperation, and a deeper, long-term engagement with lifelong health.
Sports Teams
Our school’s athletic program is anchored by our Basketball and Volleyball teams, who compete year-round. These core teams provide students with consistent opportunities to develop their skills and represent the school in local, regional, and national competitions.
In addition to our core sports, we field rotating teams specifically selected based on the requirements for Eurosport. This prestigious, biannual event brings together 30 European schools for a week of high-level competition to crown an overall champion. These rotating sports allow for a diverse range of athletic opportunities depending on the competition cycle.
Whether competing on the local stage or the international European stage, our teams are driven by excellence, teamwork, and the spirit of fair play.
Motorical Remedial Teaching
Motorical remedial teaching in schools is a specialized educational approach designed to support students with motor skill challenges. These challenges might include difficulties with fine motor skills, such as handwriting or using scissors, or gross motor skills, like balancing or coordination. The goal of motorical remedial teaching is to enhance students' physical abilities, thereby improving their overall academic performance and participation in activities both in and outside of school.
MRT is often provided in primary schools but as research shows that progress can still be made in the orientation cycle as well, ESH Secondary is currently shaping an MRT program to identify students during PE lessons that could benefit from extra help and work together on a weekly basis to enhance their motor skills.
This might involve activities that strengthen hand-eye coordination, build muscle strength and control or activities that could be directly linked to the sports that the students are doing in PE. By offering these weekly sessions, students can develop better motor skills, leading to increased confidence, independence, and engagement in both academic and extracurricular pursuits.
Top Sport
We actively supports students who pursue a high-level sports pathway alongside their academic programme. In close cooperation with families, coaches, and teaching staff, the school provides individually tailored timetables that allow students to balance academic responsibilities with structured training and competition schedules. Although timetables have limited flexibility and rules and regulations have to be followed, where necessary and when possible, students may switch between classes or teachers to ensure continuity of learning while maintaining access to essential training sessions. This case-by-case approach enables students to perform at their highest sporting level without compromising their academic development, reflecting the school’s commitment to both excellence and student well-being.
