Student-teacher ratio
Max, Alexander, Sophie and Maria started school at the PbG this year. Maria is a very quick learner. After a very short period of time, the special needs teacher diagnoses that she is a “gifted” student. Alexander and Sophie learn at a normal pace and have reached more or less the same standard of progress. The special needs teacher notices that Max has difficulties with reading and writing. Because she is gifted, Maria is given a work plan containing more advanced and challenging tasks. She is given a greater variety of topics and exercises to account for and to further her greater abilities. Max’s work plan includes exercises specifically designed to improve his reading and writing in order to counteract his learning disabilities as early as possible. Alexander has to write a short text for one exercise on his work plan, and because Alexander and Sophie both have similar work plans this week he decides to team up with Sophie and work on the text together. They receive support from their two teachers, who are always present in the classroom during lessons.
At the PbG there are two teachers per class with a maximum of 18 students per class. Both teachers are present throughout the entire school day.
For every three classes, i.e. a maximum of 54 students, there will be an additional special needs teacher, whose job it is to observe the students closely and to devise special tuition plans for those with a slower learning pace as well as for gifted students with a faster learning pace. These plans will include supplementary school work, providing additional help or greater challenges depending on the individual capabilities of the child concerned.
This additional teacher also supports the other teachers in developing and creating individual work plans for all the other students.
This excellent student-teacher ratio enables the PbG teachers to give extensive and focused attention to each student, ensuring that no child has to repeat a grade and no private lessons are necessary.