Time off school

Why you can get time off

On an exchange, you spend a week or more working with young people from other countries. Together you take on a theme through workshops, conversations and activities you partly come up with yourselves. You speak another language all day, usually English, and you get to know a country you might never have been to.

It's fun, exciting and it leaves a mark. You also learn a lot. You become more independent, you dare to do more and you see the world and yourself differently. It's an experience you won't forget.

Your school sees the value

Schools want you to grow, outside the classroom too. An exchange ties in with what you learn at school: languages, citizenship, teamwork, presenting and knowledge of other countries and cultures. Chances are your school will value an experience that pushes your limits like this. Also ask if you can do an assignment or project about it.

Your school decides

Your school decides whether you get time off. It can set conditions, for example:

• The exchange doesn't fall in an exam week.
• Your marks are good enough.
• You catch up on missed lessons and assignments yourself.

Every school handles it differently. So talk to your school yourself, and do it in good time.

How to arrange it

1. Find your exchange on the exchanges page and check the dates. Look at your school calendar to see if there are tests or an exam week in that period.
2. Talk to your mentor or coach. They know how asking for time off works at your school and who decides.
3. Send your school the link to the page of your exchange. It shows what you'll be doing, where and when. From that page, your school can click through to the explanation of our exchanges.
4. Ask for the time off the way your school wants, for example with a form. If you're under 18, your parents or guardians usually do this for you.
5. Does your school have questions? They can always email us at erasmus@jongnoord.nl.

Agreements with schools

We want to make fixed agreements with schools in Groningen about time off for exchanges. Then you know where you stand in advance, and you don't have to explain what you'll be doing every time. As soon as there are agreements, you can read here which schools take part and on what terms.

Do you work at a school? Do you have ideas, or would you like to make fixed agreements with Jong Noord so your students hear about these opportunities sooner? For example, by forwarding new exchanges to all students in a mailing. Get in touch with us, and we'll work out together what suits your school.