The Cals College Supervisory Board is responsible for two schools: Cals College Nieuwegein and Cals College IJsselstein. The schools are about five kilometres apart and on the periphery of the historic city of Utrecht. Amsterdam is about 40 kilometres away.
Cals College is founded on general Christian values, but open to all faiths. Each school has its own principal who is responsible for the daily management (see Appendix B).
Pupils at Cals College had a choice of four or more secondary schools in the catchment area, all of which strive to be responsive to the wishes of parents and pupils. At Cals the focus has always been on cultivating an open atmosphere, with good relations between pupils and staff. The cultural and bilingual strengths of the school also have a significant attraction for potential pupils.
Our core values
We design and implement education based on the following core values:
- We believe in each other, in each other’s capabilities, and in each other’s intentions. We have high expectations of each other, and we think and act in terms of opportunities and possibilities. In this way we offer our pupils the opportunity to develop cognitively, creatively, and in their understanding of this world.
- We feel a bond with each other. Acknowledging each other and being acknowledged are therefore important to us. We look out for each other. We feel responsible for ourselves and for each other.
- We are open to the ways in which other people can be different. This requires tolerance. We do so in dialogue with each other, on the basis of equality.
- We seek an atmosphere of openness. We respond to our environment with an open mind, and are open to new ideas and insights. We view the world with wonder, and share this wonder with our pupils.
- This is how we create a safe environment for living and for learning.
- This is how we give shape to our open Catholic identity.
Quality and goals
Cals College is continuously working to improve the quality of its education. We follow the latest developments and make sure that our education continues to connect smoothly to further education and the job market. We devote lots of attention to the compulsory school subjects, but we find that personal development and preparing for the future are indispensable for every pupil.
Besides culture and sports, our education policy also sees internationalisation as an important goal. Accordingly, we organise international internships, exchanges and trips. This gives pupils the opportunity to put their foreign language skills and knowledge into practice. Of course you are more than welcome to visit Cals College to gain a first-hand impression, and to discover how the Dutch education system works.
Pupil guidance
Additional support for pupils and parents
We believe that pupils, parents and the school should always communicate with each other. All pupils have their own (class) tutor. The class tutor has a special responsibility for the overall well-being of the pupils at school and is the first point of contact for parents. Parents can monitor their children’s marks and attendance online. For pupils with special needs, we have a care team which includes remedial teachers, confidential advisers and teaching assistants.