English

Welcome to the website of the VO-raad, the Dutch council for secondary education.

VO-raad represents 334 school governing boards and over 600 schools in secondary education. As a sector organisation VO-raad aims at quality, development and innovation of the secondary education sector (1 million students, age 12-18). As an employer association VO-raad conducts the consultation with trade unions concerning the labour agreements of over 120,000 staff members.

VO-raad provides a network within the sector, between the schools and society by creating conditions for good education and making education results visible. Thereby VO-raad works on the key points from the policy agenda and sector agenda agreed on by the members.

VO-raad maintains close contacts with school leaders and governors with the aim of coordinating policy and activities on current issues in the schools. Governors and school leaders influence the policy and the points of view of VO-raad by participating in knowledge groups, advisory board, regional meetings, the member panel and the school leader platform.

VO-raad advocates the interests of the schools towards the Ministry of Education, House of Commons, education inspectorate, other education sectors and civil society organisations. In the advocacy towards political parties and the ministry, VO-raad focuses on themes on the policy agenda and sector agenda agreed on by the members.

Important focal point is giving schools the opportunity to make their own choices. That is necessary for good quality education. This conflicts with tight rules and legislation. To facilitate members in these choices VO-raad implements projects in the field of accountability, career guidance and innovation.

VO-raad discusses with the members the implementation of quality standards and other binding agreements, reports on relevant national and international research, stimulates the professionalism of governors/school leaders, makes developments visible, communicates good examples and makes education facts visible.

Good advocacy also needs investing in relations. VO-raad discusses important topics regularly with governing board organisations, trade unions, education councils and trade union federations for teachers, parent associations and student organisations. VO-raad cooperates in the international community in ICP (International Confederation of Principles), ESHA (European School Heads Association), and EFEE (European Federation of Education Employers) and national platforms such as beta technique, Covenant obesity, Covenant on teachers professionalization and network of ICT at school.

Unfortunately we are not yet able to provide you with translations in English of all the information on this website. If you have specific questions, please send an email to international@vo-raad.nl and we will be happy to inform you.

On the right you find a download with information on the Dutch Educational System. Specific information in the document on secondary education starts at page 61. You also find a document on school leadership in the Netherlands.