Gymnázium Sázavská is a private secondary school of general education based on non-profit principles. Our school curriculum puts the emphasis on the basis of general education, foreign languages, and computer studies.
The division of subjects according students´ knowledge has become a widely recommended and adopted trend, thus we have incorporated this approach into our curriculum too. That is why the students are divided into groups according to their level of knowledge and ability for all the language lessons. This division allows the more advanced students to build up on their previous level of language competency while letting the beginners study the basics of the language. A Czech teacher (teaching grammar, reading and listening skills) tightly cooperates with a native speaker (teaching vocabulary, speaking and writing skills). All language teachers, including the native speakers, are qualified or/and certified as foreign language teachers.
In higher grades, students have an option to choose from additional subjects. These optional subjects help them determine their future careers and prepare them not only for a school-leaving exam but also for university entrance exams. Maths, which is often a scare for many students, is also divided into three levels.
All staff at Sázavská have been carefully preparing for concept of the Sate Maturita Exam. We have intensified studies by providing various optional seminars, have created more school-leaving exam subjects, and have adapted the curricula to fit the new requirements. Also, all teachers have been trained to become effective and skilled examiners and interlocutors of the state part of Maturita Exam.
With the access to a wide-range of studies, exposure to modern and innovative forms of teaching and learning, proper preparation in two prominent foreign languages, the freedom to choose their core subjects, and the option to attend professionally taught seminars, graduates from Sázavská are well-qualified for further university studies and are prepared to rigorously pursue their chosen field.
Last but not least, we want our students to obtain and practise principles of morality and honesty, to become experienced in ethics and politics, to be able to understand not only the culture and art of their homeland but also those of other nations, and to be able to communicate and cooperate well with others.
Frequently asked questions
How many classes are going to be opened in the coming school year?
We generally accept 50 new students into two 1st year classes. Even though there has been a significant lack of students recently due to the population decline in previous decades, we still prefer to open one class only, but full of study-oriented students to keep the quality of the school high.
When does the entrance exam take place and what does it look like?
The first round of the entrance exam takes place on April 24, 2012. Applicants hand in only one application via their basic school in the first round. That is why we offer all students preliminary entrance tests already in December. If a student passes these preliminary tests, they would be considered successful applicants for our school. The results of these tests are binding and are counted for their April test session, too.
When do I have to hand in the application form?
The state application, as well as our internal application form, has to be handed in the office of our school by March 15, 2012. One can obtain not only all application forms during our school Open House days, but also all important information about the entrance exams. The Open House days are regularly held from 6 pm in the school building and they are announced beforehand on the school web sites. Here you can also download the application forms – folder Pro zájemce o studium/Přihláška na GS.
What are the admission criteria?
- Psychological test – max 110 points
- Oral entrance interview – max 40 points
- The final basic school report from the 9th grade – max 10 points
= 160 points
The required minimum to be accepted at our school is 100 points.
What are the chances of being accepted for studies at your school?
Since we organise the preliminary tests, all applicants can try out the entrance process. Those who are successful during the preliminary tests, have an obvious chance to becoming our students.
What foreign languages can you study at your Gymnasium?
Our students study 2 foreign languages on compulsory basis. They choose from 4 foreign languages: English, German, French and Spanish. On top of that, they can decide to study several optional languages too, e.g. Italian, Japanese, or Russian. The optional language seminars are opened once there are at least 9 students in the language group. Generally, the language groups have maximum of 15 students and students are divided into the groups according to their language knowledge. In exceptional cases, esp. in facultative languages, the groups may be much smaller (starting with 3 students in a group).
What methods do we use to teach foreign languages?
All first-year applicants write placement tests before or at the start of the school year. This test distributes them among groups according to their language knowledge. Thanks to this system, the curriculum precisely corresponds to the needs of each particular group. The language level is set and estimated on the basis of the Common European Framework for Languages.
There are two teachers for each study group. We lay emphasis on the full qualification of all our language teachers including native speakers. The Czech teachers aim at developing the complex language skills of the students (grammar, reading, and listening). Native speakers, on the other hand, are responsible for the development of students’ communicative capabilities (both in the spoken and written form), as well as their ability to understand daily life language. A native teacher is employed only if he or she can prove the required qualification and/or previous pedagogical experience.
Students also have the opportunity to prepare themselves for international language exams in a optional exam prep-courses offered by the school, e.g. FCE, DELF, ZD. Also, we offer individual approach and study programmer to those students who have higher than standard knowledge in a particular language.
Does the school organise exchange study stays abroad?
Our language teachers regularly organise both trips and exchange stays abroad, mainly to Great Britain, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. Also, our students are supported by the school to regularly leave abroad for studies.
When and how may I use computers at your school?
All students have the computers at their disposal. These are located in the IT room, and are connected to the Internet via a broad band. This classroom is open for all students every afternoon (the school is locked at 6 p.m.). Each student has his/her own access password to the school net. In addition, the school has been equipped with a wi-fi connection and so the access to the Internet is not limited to classrooms only.
What optional seminars does the school offer?
First group is formed by seminars that deepen particular specialisations; they include seminars of maths, biology, chemistry, physics, history, geography, civics, philosophy, text interpretation, arts, or the history of arts.
Second group consists of optional seminars that arise from students´ various interests and include interesting projects, sport activities, arts, etc.
How does your school work with disabled students?
Our school strongly supports the education of talented children who suffer either from a physical handicap or from a learning disorder. Our school provides free education for physically handicapped students. Unfortunately, we cannot accept students on wheelchairs because our school is not equipped for their mobility. Students with learning disorders are to attend special Czech lessons to learn how to deal with their handicap. These students follow an individual programme in other lessons as well because our teachers are trained to compensate for learning disorders in regular lessons.
What is the school fee and how does it change during the studies?
The fee for the school year 2011/2012 is 41 700 Czech crowns (about1.700€). The fee is to be paid in two instalments per school year. In specific case, the school fee may be divided according to an individual instalment plan. The school fee is suggested by the founders of the school and approved by the School Board and the Parent Board. It is calculated to reflect the inflation rate and the fixed expenses (e.g. electricity, water, heating). The founder suggests 3 variants of the fee and it is up to the boards to decide on the final one.
Is there a canteen at the school?
Although the school does not have its own canteen, students can decide to eat in the basic school’s canteen that is situated in the same building. Alternatively, they can eat in any of the school canteens that are in GS’s surroundings.
Who teaches at GS?
The team consists of approximately 30 teachers (16 male and 12 female) who are on average 36 years old.
How are students assessed?
During the course of the year the knowledge and abilities of students are evaluated on a percentage basis. At the end of the school year, the students receive a school report. Additionally, they receive a written evaluation for all subjects describing their competencies.
How can one obtain additional information about the school?
You can visit the school during any of the “Open House” days to see the school premises and to ask about the school. If you want to visit lessons, please make sure to contact us beforehand so that we can arrange your visit.
All of the “Open House” days start at 6 p.m. by a presentation and discussion with the principal. On these days, starting at 9 a.m., you can also observe the lessons (individually or in small groups).
The “Open House” days in the present school year:
- 10/1/2012
- 17/1/2012
- 31/1/2012
- 14/2/2012
In addition, we would like to cordially invite you to educational workshops prepared by our teachers on December 8, 2011 (Thursday) and January 19, 2012 (Thursday) from 5 p.m.
Does the school provide scholarship?
Students can be granted a Grade-Social Scholarship. This one is decided upon by the scholarship board, i.e. J. Němeček (a school founder), a representative of the Board of Parents, and a School Board representative.
When do the classes start?
The school usually starts at 8.30 a.m.
What is IES – International Education society?
It is a society within the international project Certificate specialised in the foreign language programmes. It evaluates all educational subjects ranging from the universities to private language courses.
Each accredited subject may issue international certificates that clearly states when, where and what the student has achieved, at what level and also describes the up-to-date accreditation level of the institution issuing the certificate.
A panel of experts evaluated our school for 3 months and we have finally obtained the evaluation of a „Highly erudite and professionally managed institution“. We have received the 3rd best rating in the 12-band rating scale and there is no secondary school with a better rating in the Czech Republic at the present time.
The school pays for registration of all its students’ certificates the IES database for the period of twenty years. All students receive the IES certificate as a part of their Maturita report card.
How to contact us?
- Address: Gymnasium Sázavská, Sázavská 5, 120 00, Prague 2, Czech Republic
- Phone / fax : 00 420 222 522 221
- E-mail: Tato emailová adresa je chráněna před spamboty, abyste ji viděli, povolte JavaScript
- Personally in the school office: Mon-Thu: 8 am. - 4 pm., Fri: 8 am. - 2 pm.
- Head of the Foreign Languages Department: Jan TEPLÝ, 777 710 742, Tato emailová adresa je chráněna před spamboty, abyste ji viděli, povolte JavaScript and Tomáš VÁVRA, 775 272 014, Tato emailová adresa je chráněna před spamboty, abyste ji viděli, povolte JavaScript
