Poljane Grammar School

infobox high school
name = Poljane Grammar School
native_name = Gimnazija Poljane
streetaddress = Strossmayerjeva 1
city = Ljubljana
country = SVN
coordinates = coord|46|03|0|N|14|30|49|E|display=inline,title
head of school = Bojan Končan
established = 1889
type = general gymnasium, classical gymnasium
staff = 100
students = 900
age range = 15-19
classes = 32
website = [http://www.gimnazija-poljane.com www.gimnazija-poljane.com] The Poljane Grammar School (Lang-sl|Gimnazija Poljane) is located in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. It is a coeducational nondenominational state secondary general education school for students aged between 15 to 19. It prepares them for university, which they can enroll at after successfully passing the matura (leaving exam).

hort history

The Poljane Grammar School was founded in 1889 as a lower secondary school with German as the language of instruction. Its initial name was "Second State Gymnasium". In 1900, it was expanded to include 15 to 19-year-olds as well. In the present building classes started in 1907. In 1918 the building was renovated and German was replaced by Slovene as the language of instruction. By 1921, the Poljane Grammar School was the largest secondary school in Slovenia. Several school reforms changed the curriculum and the name of the school. Thes names included "Grammar School No. 2", "Grammar School No. 5", and "Vida Janežič Grammar School" (the last name refers to the Communist-era hero Vida Janežič, 1914-1944). In 1990 the school was renamed the Poljane Grammar School.

Main characteristics

The school's curriculum consists of two programs: the general program ( _sl. "splošna gimnazija") and the classical program ( _sl. "klasična gimnazija"), in which one of the foreign languages is Latin. A change introduced three years ago are European classes, in which the general program incorporates the latest trends: project approach, authentic interdisciplinary learning, team teaching of foreign languages with the aim of increasing the intercultural competence of students.

The Poljane Grammar School offers its students the possibility to choose among a broad range of foreign languages. All students in school study at least two foreign languages, some study three or even four. In addition to English or German as the first foreign language (starting at an intermediate level), they can pick one or two at a beginner level, choosing from German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian and Classical Greek in the classical program. The second foreign language is studied for all four years, the third one for two or three. In the classical program, Latin is a compulsory subject with a focal role in the curriculum.

Quality of education

The Poljane Grammar School has a reputation as one of the best Slovenian general secondary schools. There are very few, if any, dropouts, and the academic performance of students is very good. This is shown annually in the results of the leaving exam. Every year, the average results of students are high above the national average, and the number of students who pass with distinction is among the highest in the country.

Famous people

Famous professors:
*Franček Bohanec, author and literary historian
*Božidar Jakac, painter
*Andrej Karlin, prelate, bishop of Trieste
*France Koblar, art historian
*Dragutin Mate, diplomat and politician
*Simon Rutar, historian
*Oton Župančič, poet
*Fran Zwitter, historian

Famous students:
*Igor Bergant, sports commentator
*Alenka Gotar, singer
*Tamara Griesser Pečar, historian
*Zoran Janković, manager and politician, mayor of Ljubljana
*Zmago Jelinčič Plemeniti, politician
*Taras Kermauner, literary historian, philosopher and essayist
*Ernst Mally, Austrian philosopher
*Boris A. Novak, author
*Matjaž Šinkovec, diplomat and politician
*Vasko Simoniti, historian and politician

External links

* [http://www.gimnazija-poljane.com/ official site of the Poljane Upper Secondary School]