European School - Curriculum

Curriculum

The curriculum is common to all fourteen schools and is centrally controlled by the Board of Inspectors and the Board of Governors. There is a strong common core throughout the secondary school.

• The following subjects are compulsory for Years 1–7 of the secondary school (equivalent to Years 7–13 in England):
  • First language (normally mother tongue)
  • First foreign language (one of English, Spanish, French or German), with some schools providing additional languages such as Italian, Danish and Dutch.

    Note: The Irish language is encouraged for children of Irish parentage. While Irish law dictates that children holding Irish passports must learn Irish, there is little or no recourse for the Irish Government to make this compulsory within the European school system, due to its being located outside the jurisdiction of the Irish legal system.

  • Mathematics
  • Science: Physics, Chemistry or Biology
  • History
  • Geography
  • Ethics/religion
  • Physical education

• Art and music are compulsory in Years 1–2, as is the study of a second foreign language in Years 2–5 and philosophy in Years 6–7.

Children may choose to do two of the following in year 3: Latin, Music or Art

• There is a range of options for Years 4–5 including Music, Economics and a third or fourth foreign language, and a greater range of choices in Years 6–7.
• Science is taught as an integrated course in Years 1–3 and as three separate subjects (physics, chemistry, biology) in Years 4–5.
• History and Geography are studied in the student's first foreign language from Year 3 onwards.
• At least one science subject (Biology, Chemistry or Physics) is compulsory in years 6 and 7.