Mission and vision
Gymnázium Přírodní škola, o.p.s.
Our school, founded by our current headmaster, František Tichý, in 1993, offers an alternative to the conventional type of education taught in Czech state high schools. The goal of our school, according to our philosophy, should not only be to prepare students for the maturita exam and entrance examinations, but it should also be a place where everyone finds their place, regardless of their age, talents, or interests. We put emphasis on our community that lives together, creates, and is open to the outside world.
Mission and vision
The main motto of our school: “School is life itself, not a mere preparation for future life,” encounters the imbalance in the school curriculum. Yes, school is a place where they can learn basic and later more complex knowledge, but we think it is much more than that. School is a living community, is another one of our mottos, and perhaps even more aptly describes how people live in our school. The emphasis on community life and the ability to live together is evident almost every morning when the whole school gathers for a meeting we call a companion. We think that the ability of students to work together across generations is often much more valuable than any specialty. We, therefore, strive to make mutual learning a permanent part of our school system, and throughout the year, students have the opportunity, with the help of a teacher, to try teaching in one of the younger classes. We think that students can learn from teachers as much as teachers can learn from students. Our school has a long tradition of student councils, where they articulate their opinions through voted representatives.
The Natural School was accepted among the most innovative OECD schools in 2012 (as the only gymnasium in the Czech Republic). From 2018, we are a Faculty School of the Faculty of Natural Sciences of Charles University.
Specifically, the system of our school can be characterized in the following way:
- Small and integrated group of people in friendly atmosphere. Maximum capacity of the school is 70 students.
- School excursions – the whole school frequently leaves Prague for a couple of days. These excursions cover some 6-8 weeks per school year.
- Maximum participation of students in the organization of the school (self-administration, lecturing training, system of patrons for younger students). Freedom of choice within individual activities and programs and the participation of each member on the decisions of the whole community. If you are interested in functioning of the student council, click here.
- Specific system of examination and evaluation (a system of partial exams, the so called conditions and credits) in which the students themselves to a significant extent determine their own specific way of reaching the didactic and educational goals, and thus become active participants in their own formation.
- Complex and long-term research projects oriented towards research (the so called expeditions) or artistic creation (mostly theatre or music) carried out by small groups consisting of students from different grades. The theme is chosen by the students themselves.
- Common goals for the whole school-team reached by the cooperation of children and teachers as well as partners of the school. Emphasis on generally beneficial goals which reach beyond the framework of the school as such – collaboration with a children home, workshops lead by students and teachers for children from other schools, research activities in regions, organization of various meetings, cultural events, publications etc.
> More details about our school in OECD material.
You may welcome the opportunity to watch the film School of Dreams from our student or a short documentary from one of the trips of the Natural School. Both videos are available for streaming with English subtitles..
