Organisation of Education and Instructional Time
For the Primary Dutch Bilingual department, a maximum of 24 students per class applies. By maintaining a small class size, each student can receive maximum attention. In consultation with the teachers, these numbers may be (temporarily) deviated from. The Primary Dutch Bilingual serves children who reside in the Netherlands on a long-term basis, and the department spans 8 year groups (groups 1 to 8).
Starting from the 2014/2015 school year, a pilot program for bilingual education was launched in our department for groups 1 and 2 (TPO: Tweetalig Primair Onderwijs / Bilingual Primary Education). Currently, 30% of instructional time across all year groups is taught in English, and since October 2025, the pilot phase has been converted into permanent legislation. The children receive English lessons (EFL), covering English spelling, grammar, reading, and speaking. These lessons are provided by specialist English teachers. In addition, physical education (PE) classes are conducted in English, and each year group has a number of lessons that are taught (partially) in English by their classroom teachers.
As of this school year, we are a candidate school for the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP). This means that our department, in partnership with the International Baccalaureate Organization, is undergoing the process to become an authorized IB World School. We share the IB’s belief and commitment to providing high-quality, challenging, and international education.
The IB PYP is an international framework specifically designed for children aged 3 to 12, focusing on the development of the whole child as an inquirer, both in the classroom and in the world outside. The program is organized around six themes of global significance, known as transdisciplinary themes, which help students make connections across different subject areas and the real world. Through a concept-driven approach and an emphasis on inquiry-based learning, students are encouraged to ask their own questions and take responsibility for their own learning process, while simultaneously developing essential skills and an international mindset.
During the current candidacy phase, we have opted for a gradual transition to the IB PYP, combining the trusted foundation of our current methodologies with the new international framework to guide the team and students step-by-step through this development. In practice, this means that we run three official PYP Units of Inquiry each year, while continuing to work with the themes of Kleuterplein, Veilig de Wereld in, and Alles-in-1 that the children and teachers are currently accustomed to. This hybrid approach ensures stability and continuity in the learning process as we move toward full implementation of the program. Through this careful phasing, we safeguard the quality of our education and ensure that everyone is optimally prepared for the final authorization, which we expect to apply for by mid-2028.
In addition to the thematic approach, we will continue to use our proven methods for basic skills for the time being: initial reading instruction (Veilig Leren Lezen), language/reading education (Alles in 1 and Alles Apart), and mathematics (Getal en Ruimte Junior). These methods are not viewed as standalone subjects but are offered functionally and integrated within the PYP units and other projects wherever possible. In this way, we safeguard the continuous learning pathways and high-quality instruction our students need, while allowing them to immediately apply the acquired knowledge and skills within the context of their broader inquiry projects.
To strengthen cohesion in the learning process, the EFL (English as a Foreign Language) lessons also align closely with the ongoing units and projects, enriching the education with instructional materials from the United Kingdom. Additionally, physical education (PE), art, music and drama, are offered in an integrated manner. By linking these subject areas to the central inquiry questions of the PYP units and other projects, students are given the opportunity to express and deepen their knowledge and talents in diverse ways, contributing to a holistic and meaningful learning experience.
The IB Learner Profile
The aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world. As IB learners we strive to be:
- Inquirers
- Open-minded
- Knowledgeable
- Caring
- Thinkers
- Risk-takers
- Communicators
- Balanced
- Principled
- Reflective
Education Time
By education time we mean the hours per week the students are at school. Children are entitled to sufficient hours of education. Pupils must receive at least 7520 hours of education in eight school years. The number of teaching hours per week is 25.5 (1530 minutes). We adhere to the legal requirements regarding school holidays.
The tables below show per school year how the education time is divided over the various subject areas (in minutes per week). It should be noted that for groups 3 to 8 our thematic activities also include our language; traffic; ICT and creative activities.
Education time groups 1 and 2:
Education time groups 3 to 8:
