Starting Private Secondary School Notification

Starting a private secondary school (particuliere school voortgezet onderwijs) requires notification to the Education Executive Agency (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs, DUO). A private secondary school is a school that is not publicly funded and for which parents pay the full tuition fees themselves. These schools must meet the quality requirements from the Secondary Education Act 2020 (Wet voortgezet onderwijs 2020).

The notification is submitted to DUO, which supervises private secondary schools. DUO checks whether the school meets legal requirements for educational quality, safety, and board reliability.

Requirements

  • Education plan: A plan with educational vision, curriculum, and learning objectives for secondary education
  • School building: A suitable location that meets construction, safety, and health requirements
  • Qualified teachers: Sufficient qualified teachers with proper second-degree or first-degree teaching credentials
  • Board: A reliable and trustworthy board responsible for the school

Procedure

  • Submit notification: Submit a notification to DUO before starting
  • Provide documentation: Submit all required documents, including the education plan and board information
  • Assessment: DUO assesses whether the school meets requirements from the Secondary Education Act 2020
  • Registration: After approval, the school is registered and may start operating

Restrictions

  • No funding: Private schools do not receive government funding and must be self-sufficient through tuition fees
  • Examinations: The school may not issue official diplomas; students must take external examinations
  • Supervision: The education inspectorate supervises quality and compliance with legal regulations
  • Core objectives: The school must contribute to students' general education according to secondary education core objectives