About Our School
Our school (BundesRealGymnasium Wien 14) is situated on the outskirts of Vienna, in the 14th district. Students at BRG 14 are aged 10-18 and after having passed the final examination „Matura“, they are entitled to continue their education at university level.
BRG 14 has approximately 700 students, 70 teachers and 5 other staff members. In the lower classes (students aged 10-14) there are about 140 students per age-group, in the upper classes (students aged 15-18) there are approximately 60 students per age-group.
Some classes of BRG 14 focuse on modern languages, the students do not only learn English, French and Italien/Latin, but can choose optional languages like Spanish or Chinese.
Students can also attend CLIL-classes. CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) deals with implementing English as a language of instruction in subjects like maths, history, geography or science. This project (called DLP – Dual Language Program) is financially supported by the City Board of Education. In each class 6-7 lessons per week are arranged in the framework of CLIL and with the help of a native assistant teacher. To become member of a CLIL class, before registration an orientation interview is held to assess the child’s ability to master the bilingual program.
The science focus of BRG 14 is carried out in different ways: In addition to an increased number of science lessons compared to other school types, the schedule of some classes provides special lessons for work in the school lab. Every year this school lab focuses on a different science subject, but the common objective is the same: Students should become acquainted with the scientific way of thinking, they should learn to state hypotheses, plan and conduct experiments and evaluate their results writing lab reports. Students of lower classes (aged 12-14) can volunteer for additional science courses. These classes are mainly intended to spark the students’ interests in science by conducting hands-on experiments and dealing with the science of everyday life.
[note color=“#FFFFFF“] [/note]Further Information about our school
Our school offers two different types of school: Gymnasium and Realgymnasium, whereby the timetables do not differ during the first two years.
Gymnasium focuses on the acquisition of foreign languages. Our language tuition is well-rounded in methods, active speaking and listening comprehension are encouraged early in the lower secondary by application of the modern media and innovative working techniques. Language and project weeks motivate our students and boost their language competence.
Realgymnasium focuses on natural sciences. Theoretical as well as practical aspects are conveyed in the natural sciences classes due to regular work in our laboratories. This education is further enriched by project weeks. However, foreign languages keep their significance and are by no means neglected.
All other subjects are equally represented in both school types, in line with the purpose of general education.
[note color=“#FFFFFF“] [/note]Annually, an information evening takes place in autumn for the parents of the 2nd graders, which should help facilitate their choice between Gymnasium and Realgymnasium.
In the 3rd and 4th forms the issue of the “real working world” finds its way into the classes and amplifies the student’s engagement with the subject: What profession should I choose? What kind of education do I need to achieve it? This process of consideration is often fascinating, yet it’s not always easy, therefore individual consultations are often appreciated. These take place with the student consultant, either during consultation hours or at special appointments.
Over the last few years we organised a day when they had the possibility to visit the higher classes (=> “Oberstufenklassen”) for all pupils of the 3rd and 4th forms, the “Oberstufentag”. Our goal is to present the upper classes to the pupils as authentically and vividly as possible.
Further on, a presentation for the parents of the 4th graders and for the students themselves is organised once a year in autumn. This evening is solely used to inform the students and their parents about their possibilities and their potential future careers in life. In this very evening information brochures that we get every year from the Ministry of Education and the employment agency are given to the students.
As soon as the decision is made, detailed information about the young people’s choices of subjects in the upper secondary will be made available for the students. Again a presentation will be held. We present the eligible compulsory subjects and give the students an outlook over the actual Matura regulations. Because: those who combine their own fields of interest with the eligible compulsory subjects and with school in general will profit more.
[note color=“#FFFFFF“] [/note]Eventually information on further education opportunities after graduation (normally one-to-one counselling) and on the design of the Matura itself (papers, exams, terms of oral exams etc.) follows during 11th and 12th grades.
It is our goal that the students at BRG 14 successfully master their chosen educational careers and acquire realistic self-assessment to make them well equipped for their future working lives. We believe in reaching this through active cooperation between our school administration, teachers, form teachers, vocational counsellor, parents and students.
Mag. Silvia Pill, Bildungsberatung
Translation: Mag. Irene Manutscheri & students