Secondary Curriculum
ESH Secondary offers a well-rounded programme to facilitate learning and ensure students are future-ready. ESH places high importance on student well-being, and the holistic approach sees students taking part in outdoor education, camps, community service, and cultural trips abroad. Students benefit from the local community links within The Hague International Zone, connecting their learning with the real world. In this way, ESH aims to inspire students to be responsible, future focused, and proactive citizens of Europe and the world.
Structure
Secondary education in the European Schools lasts for seven years, and is divided into three cycles:
Observation Cycle: S1-S3
For the first three years of Secondary school, students follow a broad, common curriculum. Most subjects are taught in the mother tongue language (L1).
Pre-Orientation Cycle: S4-S5
Here, students have more options of specialist subjects to prepare them for the Orientation Cycle. This is supported by our Careers Guidance team.
Orientation Cycle: S6-S7
The final two years become the European Baccalaureate cycle. With a core of compulsory subjects, students have a wide range of further options.