More about us

Only senior general secondary and pre-university education
At Cals College, the pupils work and learn in a secure environment and we encourage them to give of their best. Pupils really enjoy the space Cals allows them for exploring their own talents and interests. In seventy-minute lessons, pupils can work on their subjects for longer and in a greater variety of ways. There are fewer subjects in a day and pupils are challenged to learn actively. We are the only school in Nieuwegein to offer only senior general secondary and pre-university education with ‘gymnasium’ and bilingual pre-university education.

Ongoing dialogue with pupils and parents

We take pupils and parents seriously. We respond quickly to questions and problems, as that is important in creating a secure environment. Pupils, parents and school must remain in dialogue in order to keep each other informed. All pupils have their own mentor, and both the mentor and subject teacher talk to the pupils in person and involve them in the learning process. For pupils with special needs, we have plenty of experts (remedial teachers, counsellors, confidential advisers and teaching assistants).

Culture for all pupils

As we believe in the importance of cultural education, we offer our pupils a variety of cultural options. Besides music and visual art, we also give drama in the first and second year. These pupils also take a cultural programme once a week, in which they can choose to specialise in music, drama or visual art, or else opt for broad-based, integrated workshops in the cultural field (dance, film/video or creative writing). Visual art and music are examination subjects. We provide pupils with a performance platform through cultural presentations, two musicals (one especially for the first formers) and in ‘Cals Cultureel’ and ‘Cals Klassiek’.

Bilingual pre-university education

Pupils taking bilingual pre-university education take more than half their subjects in English and receive extra English lessons from a native speaker. There is also an international cultural programme that includes excursions, theatre visits and exchanges. This gives pupils an excellent command of English, as well as a better insight into international society. In the higher forms of bilingual pre-university education, pupils can prepare for an internationally recognised IB certificate: English A2. Bilingual pre-university education gives an advantage to pupils wishing to study abroad.

Internationalisation

It has long been a tradition at our school to bring pupils into contact with other cultures. For many years, we have had an exchange programme with schools in Estonia and Barcelona, and we organise work weeks and cultural excursions to Rome, Greece and London, for example. Especially for pupils of bilingual pre-university education, there are exchanges with European schools (e.g. in Ireland and Poland).

Cover in the case of cancelled lessons

If a teacher is absent, the lessons are taken over by a member of staff specially engaged to do so. This means that pupils continue working on their subjects or receive new assignments under supervision.

Facilities for sports talents

Space can be created in the school programme for sports talents to take part in training sessions, competitions and matches. The sports supervisor makes agreements with these pupils about combining the sports programme with the educational requirements of the school.

Information science, philosophy and Hebrew

Cals gives several subjects that are not offered at every school. Pupils can choose the subjects philosophy and information science as examination subjects. Those interested can also take a course in Hebrew.

The building

Cals College is housed in a modern building that is open, well-laid out, safe and light, and which provides the eductional facilities necessary for the future. The classrooms are equipped with modern facilities and pupils can use workplaces outside the classrooms, both with and without computers. There is also an extensive and up-to-date media library.

The assembly hall is a wonderful theatrical space, which is used for all sorts of performances as well as for the drama and cultural lessons.