A formation strategy translated into reality

We have been overwhelmingly pleased with the collaboration and experience that we have obtained a strategy that makes sense and provides direction with backing and ownership within the organization.
‍Mette Trangbæk, Principal, Greve Gymnasium

CHALLENGE

The role of high schools is evolving. Sustainability in its broadest sense has become a focal point for the educational mission concerning both mental health and climate. At Greve Gymnasium, there was a recognized need to increase the focus on the green transition, including the school's own emissions, and to incorporate the Sustainable Development Goals into more subjects. At the same time, there was an awareness of the desires of new generations for modern teaching methods and an openness to collaboration with the surrounding community.

SOLUTION

Greve Gymnasium addressed this new educational task in the development of their new five-year strategy, involving the board, management, teachers, students, and external stakeholders. The strategy's three key words became the guiding mantra for the school: Knowledge – Passion – Courage.

Subsequently, eight teams of teachers, students, and leaders were tasked with working on selected initiatives in the strategy over a semester. The approach was exploratory and innovative, pushing all teams to try something new that would realize the ambitions of the strategy.

RESULT

The strategy has provided a common direction for the gymnasium while strengthening its focus on co-creative development. It is now a regular part of the annual cycle to work concretely and experimentally on selected strategic areas, with both management, teachers, and students involved. This has strengthened the use of the gymnasium's strategic body, the 'Strategic Forum,' and the distribution of roles in the school's management. Particularly, involving students in all aspects of the strategy process has generated energy and initiative. Thus, the strategy work has become an opportunity to increase student engagement while reaching out to the local community and inviting them into the development process. Initiatives initiated include an annual Sustainable Development Goals day, a new citizenship introduction program, and a focus on learning methods and partnerships in teaching.