Gymnázium in VYSOKÉ MÝTO - Czechia
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Gymnázium Vysoké Mýto is a secondary school providing general education for students aged 11- 19. It is situated is the centre of Vysoké Mýto and is attended by about 350 students.
HISTORY AND SCHOOL TRANSFORMATIONS
The Gymnasium was founded in 1879. At first it was a municipal school, which only boys were allowed to attend. In the late 19th century it became a public educational institution. Until the First World War, there were only a few girls among the students. In the interwar period, however, growing coeducation meant that since the 1930s, girls have formed the majority of students.
During its existence the school has changed its curriculum several times. Originally a classical school, with an emphasis on teaching Latin and Greek, it became a real gymnasium when the classics gave way to natural science subjects. Year by year, visitors to our school will notice changes in classroom equipment, and in the arrangement of space both inside and outside the building. Modern teaching methods and the school facilities are responding to the demands of the times, and of parents and pupils.
CURRICULUM
Our school offers its candidates the opportunity to choose between two syllabuses. Students who go on to high school after primary school take an entrance exam ( at the age of 11 or 15) and, if they pass, enrol directly in a four-year or eight-year programme. After they graduate, they can move on to a four / five-year university programme.
Our school is committed to encouraging a broad spectrum of interests in its students, and this helps to shape the curriculum. In their last two years, students can choose subjects tailored to industry specialisations (technical studies, languages, social sciences, and natural sciences) in order to prepare for their future professional orientation.
INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS
The Gymnasium is building long-term international contacts, encouraging students' language skills. Regular trips abroad within EU programmes such as Comenius / Erasmus+ and eTwinning complement the teaching of foreign languages (English, French and German), improve language skills and widen students' outlook, which is positively reflected during other lessons.
CULTURE AND SPORT
The school has always aimed to enrich the cultural life of VM. An integral part of the Urban September festivities is GymJam, a student band entertainment activity which is helping create a tradition. Throughout the year, the school organizes exhibitions of photographs and works of art, and holds lectures and concerts for the public sponsored by various organisations.
The school pays great attention to sports activities, and many students have become famous beyond the local region. Well-known graduates include František Ventura, an Olympic Show Jumping champion in 1928, and Rudolf Popler, twice winner of the Grand Pardubice Steeplechase. Among current successful athletes we should mention Martin Victorin, junior Kickboxing world champion, and Zdenka Seidlova, a promising athlete who has participated in several continental championships.
COOPERATION WITH UNIVERSITIES
After passing their final exams,, most of our students go on to university. In recent years, we have established cooperation with the University of Hradec Králové and Pardubice University. Academics regularly attend specialized lectures at GVM.
HONOURS AND AWARDS
Our students have achieved many successes in professional competitions. Traditionally, we have been successful in technical fields, and were particularly pleased to win competitions and Amavet RoboRave, not only in Europe, but also in the United States. International recognition regularly results from projects that arise in the context of eTwinning.