Secondary education

Your child can often choose from several secondary schools. The most common division is:

• Practical education
• VMBO
• Weather
• VWO

Secondary schools can be very different. Read more about this on the website of the central government or in it overview of all Utrecht secondary schools. It is important that your child ends up in a secondary school that is a good fit.  

• Talk to your teen. Try to find out what is going on and how you can help.
• Talk to the mentor, care coordinator of the secondary school, Youth Health Care Utrecht and/or the Utrecht VO CollaborationWhat do they notice and how can they help your child?

Isn't that enough? Take touch with with the neighbourhood team in your district. You can contact us with all your questions and concerns.

• Show interest in your teen. After school, ask how his or her day was.
• Attend all 10-minute meetings with your child's teachers and ask how your child is doing in class.
• Keep in touch with your teenager's mentor. They often know your child's school situation well and will be happy to help your child.
• Give your teenager compliments and increase their self-confidence. 
• Help your child (if necessary) with planning school, sports and work.

• Show interest in what your teen has to do for school. Make sure you are aware of important tests and papers and help with planning when needed.
• Agree with your child when he or she will do homework and study and when he or she will have free time.
• Make sure your teen goes to bed on time and has their own study space, laptop and paper diary.
• Make sure your child is not distracted by a cell phone or social media during homework.
• Does your teen struggle with homework or do you have a lot of arguments about homework and planning? Together with the school or the neighborhood team in your neighborhood, look at how doing homework and studying can cause less stress in the family.   

View on:

• Behavior and development
• Additional youth care
• Stress
• Special education
• Study