What is the International Crossover Class?
The International Crossover Class (ICC) provides high-quality international education tailored for children aged 10, 11, or 12 who are deciding between Dutch or international education, offering a unique crossover year to support their decision.
Bridging Year
In the Dutch educational system, secondary schooling begins a year later than in international systems. For students who have completed international primary education and wish to enter Dutch secondary education, the ICC offers a valuable bridging year. During this year, students complete Middle Years 1 (MY1) of the International Middle Years Curriculum (IMYC). We complement this with Pearson’s International Maths and English programs, and all lessons in Maths, English, and IMYC are delivered in English.
Level of Dutch
Students intending to continue into Dutch education after their ICC year must have a good command of the Dutch language. Throughout the ICC year, we offer daily Dutch lessons for 80 minutes, helping students strengthen their language skills. Additionally, one day per week, students follow a full day of lessons taught in Dutch by HWC teachers, including subjects like Drama, PE, and Technology. These lessons gradually transition from a mix of Dutch and English to full Dutch instruction over time. While we do offer five Dutch lessons a week, it remains the family's responsibility to ensure the student reaches the Dutch proficiency required for Dutch secondary schooling. Regular feedback from our Dutch teachers will guide this process.
After the ICC Year – Dutch or Bilingual Streams
While bilingual education might seem a natural progression for students from international backgrounds, we’ve found that it is only suitable for those who are already fluent in Dutch. Limited exposure to Dutch can slow language development, which is critical since final exams in the Dutch education system are conducted in Dutch. If our assessment indicates that a student has not yet achieved full fluency in Dutch, we recommend enrolling them in the Dutch stream in Year 1 of secondary education, where they will be immersed in the language. Bilingual education in Year 1 is an option only for those students who are already fluent in Dutch.
Beyond the ICC – Placement in the Dutch Education System
In February, our experienced teachers make a binding decision regarding the most appropriate level of Dutch secondary education for each ICC student. This decision is based on the student’s academic progress, classroom observations, and key skills such as independence, motivation, thinking skills, and curiosity. With years of experience guiding ICC students, we are confident in accurately assessing their abilities, even over a relatively short period.
Families may also choose to continue their child’s education in an international school after the ICC year if that is the best fit for their educational journey.
ICC Class Size and Fees
The ICC limits class sizes to a maximum of 18 students. The annual tuition fee is €2,750 per student. A non-refundable registration fee of €200 is required upon submission of the application.
ICC Application Procedure for 2025/2026
- Registration for the 2025/2026 academic year is open from January 24th to February 28th, 2025. Please complete the 2025/2026 registration form and submit a scanned copy via email to oos@hethwc.nl or deliver it to our school’s front office.
- Upon receipt of your registration form, we will invite your child for an intake. If the intake shows that the ICC is suitable for your child, we will send you a confirmation email and a payment request for the non-refundable registration fee of €200. Your application will be processed once this payment has been received.
- We are considering opening a second ICC group if the number of applications exceeds the available spots in the first group.
- If demand exceeds capacity, a draw will be conducted to allocate placements.
Students with siblings in the ICC or at HWC are guaranteed a place. Priority is also given to children who live in, or attend primary schools in, Amstelveen, Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, Aalsmeer, Badhoevedorp, Uithoorn, or the municipality of Amstelveen over children from other municipalities.
You will be informed by March 21st whether we can offer your child a place in the ICC for 2025/2026. If your child is not selected in the draw, the entry fee will be refunded.
The International Crossover Class is part of Hermann Wesselink College in Amstelveen, which offers secondary education in both Dutch and bilingual streams.
For further information, please contact Inke Oostveen, ICC Coordinator, at oos@hethwc.nl.
Hermann Wesselink College Motto
Our school motto at HWC is: Everybody is equal; nobody is the same.
ICC Vision
- Through the International Middle Years Curriculum (IMYC), we deliver an internationally researched, learner-focused curriculum with engaging units that help develop internationally-minded and globally competent citizens.
- At the heart of the IMYC philosophy is an understanding of how learning takes place in the adolescent brain, emphasizing the importance of making connections in learning. This is achieved through the use of "The Big Idea," which serves as a central theme that ties together all Subject, Personal, and International Learning Goals in each unit (e.g., themes like 'Balance' or 'Adaptability').
ICC Mission
In a compassionate, welcoming, and caring environment, we aim to:
- Foster curiosity, connectedness, and compassion.
- Encourage students to constantly seek to broaden their minds and horizons.
- Promote learning that empowers students to meet the challenges of the modern world.
- Inspire responsibility and active engagement in our students.
- Cultivate mutual respect for ourselves and one another.
- Strive for excellence, inspiring each other to reach our highest potential.
- Believe that continuous learning and growth shape confident, capable individuals.
ICC Valued Attributes
We encourage each ICC student to embody the following attributes:
- Adaptability
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Empathy
- Ethical behaviour
- Resilience
- Respect
- Thoughtfulness
- Open-mindedness