At the private secondary school for VMBO, HAVO and VWO students on the Oranjestraat, guidance around future study and career choices has become more central than ever. “When students understand what they’re working towards, they achieve better results.”

Van Tatenhove knows exactly what she’s talking about, bringing with her more than twenty years of experience in education. “Alongside teaching Dutch language and literature and working as a dean at schools including the Maerlant-Lyceum, I also founded several homework support institutes myself,” she explains. “Extra guidance has always been a major part of my approach, which is why Luzac’s small-scale and personal style appealed to me so much.”

According to the headteacher, having a clear dream for the future does not come naturally to every teenager. “Students are often afraid of making the wrong choices. That fear can become paralysing and cause them to get stuck — both academically and personally. It’s a shame, really, because our top-level athletes, for example, often have a very clear goal in mind. That focus tends to make their school careers much smoother.”

Futureme

That is precisely why Luzac recently introduced the FutureMe programme in Luzac The Hague following its earlier launch in Amsterdam. The initiative is designed to help students gain a clearer sense of direction. “When students first arrive here, we start with a well-established questionnaire exploring personality, skills and motivation,” says Van Tatenhove. “That already reveals a great deal. From there, students have weekly conversations with their mentor, and we actively encourage visits to university and college open days, so their future remains part of the conversation throughout the year.”

The programme also includes the FutureMe event. “During these afternoons, professionals from different fields come in to speak — not just about their jobs, but about the journey that got them there. I remember one tax lawyer who followed her heart and eventually joined the police force instead. Stories like that really help students relax and inspire them to think more openly about their own future.”

Of course, dreams alone are not enough. There is still work to be done. To make that process as smooth as possible, Luzac offers a range of tailored programmes, all centred around personal support. “With our ‘2 in 1’ exam year, students can either start university earlier or make up for a repeated year,” Van Tatenhove explains. “And our Summer School gives students the opportunity to obtain their HAVO or VWO diploma during the third exam period, without having to repeat an entire school year.”

Luzac also offers a separate study support programme for students attending other schools — something Van Tatenhove is particularly proud of. “They receive access to exactly the same mentors and learning strategies as our own students. You genuinely see young people flourish when they’re given attention, structure, calm and practical guidance. Some students only come to us after the May holidays when things aren’t going well, and still manage to move up to the next year just two months later.”

Innovation

Success rates close to one hundred per cent are no reason for Luzac to stand still. Innovation remains high on the agenda. “In Eindhoven we recently launched the Junior College,” says Van Tatenhove. “Pupils in the final years of primary school are prepared in such a way that they can move into secondary education at the highest possible level. If the first results are promising, we hope to introduce the Junior College in The Hague as well.”

There is also the newly launched international programme, Luzac Beyond. “Many young people take time abroad to learn another language, experience life at a high school overseas or take part in volunteering projects,” she says. “Now they can do that through us as well, without falling behind academically. Thanks to our extensive international network, students are offered a safe and well-supported experience with the quality and guidance people expect from Luzac. It really opens up the world to them.”

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