Which subjects are taught in the Secondary School II and to what extent? Here you can find our curriculum for grades 10 to 12.
In addition to the holistic promotion of personal development, we attach great importance to a confident use of the German language, as this is crucial for a successful school career at DISDH. We offer targeted support to all children whose first language is not German when they enter our school.
The German International School The Hague also offers the German Language Diploma – DSD I and II to all non-native speakers. Approximately 65,000 participants from over 65 countries worldwide take the DSD I and DSD II exams each year. The DSD is an official diploma with centralised examinations. The exam consists of four parts: written essay, reading comprehension, listening comprehension and oral communication. Students are prepared for these exams at their school, where they also sit the exam.
DISDH offers preparation for the DSD so that students can reach their full potential in secondary school. The German Language Diploma gives them an important advantage in the highly competitive international job market. The German Language Diploma is recognised by employers worldwide as proof of excellent German language skills.
The English language concept of the German International School The Hague aims to equip students with the necessary skills to communicate and act in a wide variety of situations and to enhance their understanding of life in English-speaking countries. In Years 11 and 12, we offer support in preparing for the Cambridge C1 Certificate, which is very popular and recognised as an excellent language diploma in the working world. Thanks to the diverse and international student body at DISDH, students experience a lively relationship with languages, which increases their motivation and interest in English as a foreign language.
In upper secondary school, students achieve a high level of proficiency in Dutch. This expansion of their language skills not only allows them to express themselves very well, but also to understand more complex concepts and to communicate confidently in different situations. In this way, we not only promote the development of our students’ linguistic diversity, but also make it much easier for them to communicate in everyday Dutch life and also when studying in the Netherlands later on.
French is continued as second foreign language from lower secondary level and can be chosen as an examination subject in the Abitur. In the upper secondary level, the language level is increased. During their time at DISDH, our students can acquire the internationally recognized language certificate “Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française” (DELF) in French.
In secondary school II, our students deepen their understanding of mathematics and science by combining theory and practice. In our modern science rooms, complex contexts are taught in a vivid way through experiments, research projects and the use of digital media. The analytical and critical approach to mathematical and scientific issues prepares our students specifically for the International Abitur and for university education or a career in STEM subjects.
Our students regularly take part in internal, German and international competitions, such as the Känguru competition, the Bolyai Team Competition or “Mathe im Advent”. We are also proud of our students who participate in the annual “Jugend forscht” competition. In all these competitions, our students regularly achieve outstanding results and expand their knowledge in a practical, research-oriented environment.
Biology, physics and chemistry are compulsory elective subjects in secondary school II. Students can choose these subjects according to their interests and aptitudes. Individual advice from the coordinating teacher ensures that the students are well-informed and supported in their choices so that they can make the right decisions for them.
In secondary school II, the DISDH gives students access to computer science as a new elective subject. Participation does not require any specific prior knowledge from the previous elective subject of computer science in the 8th and 9th grades. What is more important is an affinity for maths, as concepts such as data processing in binary representation and cryptography, as well as algorithms, require mathematical thinking.
With two lessons per week, the course introduces core topics in computer science, including algorithms and data structures, object-oriented programming in Java, theoretical computer science, cryptography, the limits of automation, relational databases and SQL. This content not only provides a sound understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the digital world, but also prepares students for a degree in computer science or related disciplines.
Even if computer science is offered as a supplement to the rest of the curriculum, a written exam is written every six months, which, together with other work, is included in a school report grade. This can be counted as part of the Abitur in the qualification phase. Computer science cannot currently be chosen as an Abitur examination subject.
The specific promotion of creative forms of expression plays a central role in secondary school II. In music lessons, students develop their instrumental and vocal skills and they can participate in ensembles such as choir, band, rock band or chamber music groups. Regular performances, both within the school and in external concerts, provide a professional stage for musical development. Individual instrumental tuition is also available at the school. Visits to concerts in The Hague are an integral part of the curriculum and encourage engagement with the international music scene.
The arts curriculum not only includes classical and contemporary art, but also focuses on architecture, design and media arts. The pupils study the theoretical and practical aspects of artistic design, analyse works in a historical and social context and develop their own concepts. Different techniques and materials are tested to develop design skills at the highest level.
Physical education has a high priority at DISDH and is an integral part of school life. Our holistic, salutogenic approach aims to promote students’ joy in movement, play, and sports in an environment conducive to physical activity. With our school sports concept, we aim to develop responsible, active, and health-conscious individuals. Our goal is to sustainably maintain the joy of movement and sports, and to establish health awareness and fitness as part of the lifestyle.
In addition, we offer our students the opportunity to test and develop their performance in competitions. Our teachers support participation in various competitions such as the DISDH Charity Run and the CPC Run The Hague, as well as the formation of school teams for events such as the European Games and Olympic Moves.
Social Sciences
The social science section in secondary school II includes the subjects religion, ethics, history, social sciences and geography.
We offer history as a bilingual subject in order to strengthen our students’ language skills and to enable them to study historical topics in depth in two languages.
The aim of the social sciences is to educate students to become reflective, critcal and responsible citizens who actively participate in the shaping of society.
The focus is on dealing with political, economic, social and cultural issues. The students learn to analyse complex relationships, defend their own points of view and to engage in objective discussion. Through practical projects, excursions and interdisciplinary approaches they gain insights into social processes and challenges. Special emphasis is placed on teaching democratic values and promoting intercultural skills in order to prepare students for responsible action in a globalised world.