Udskoling (Grades 7-9.)
Believing in Talent
The Lower Secondary School years are a time when academic growth, community and personal identity truly begin to take shape. It is here that students challenge themselves, discover new interests, take on greater responsibility and start looking towards the opportunities that await beyond compulsory education.
Throughout the school year, students have explored everything from scientific research and democracy to innovation, project-based learning and personal development. They have also taken part in study trips, excursions and bridging programmes that have provided new perspectives on both their subjects and the world around them.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
In the Lower Secondary School, students engage with real-world issues and current societal challenges. This was particularly evident in social studies, where students explored topics such as democracy, politics, globalisation and society. Visits to the Danish Parliament, mock elections and discussions of current political issues gave students the opportunity to experience democracy in action and gain a deeper understanding of the society they are part of.
Science also played a major role throughout the year. Students participated in Denmark’s nationwide Mass Experiment alongside more than 30,000 students from across the country, contributing data to the largest-ever survey of urban soil in Denmark. The project later received attention in national television, radio and newspapers, where NGG students shared their experiences of contributing to real scientific research.
The year also brought impressive academic achievements. NGG students performed exceptionally well in both the Young Scientists competition and Life Science Junior, where innovative projects, strong academic skills and excellent communication earned them places in the finals and several awards.
New Perspectives and New Experiences
One of the defining features of the Lower Secondary School at NGG is that learning often extends far beyond the classroom. Through study trips, excursions and projects, students have the opportunity to experience their subjects in practice and view the world from new perspectives.
For both Grade 9 and Grade 10, this year’s study trip to Berlin became one of the highlights of the school year. Community, history and culture came to life through a week filled with new impressions, engaging conversations and memorable shared experiences. Visits to some of the city’s most significant historical landmarks encouraged reflection on European history, while the trip also provided plenty of opportunities for fun, friendship and the unique sense of community that defines a great study trip.
One particularly memorable visit was to the iconic Olympic Stadium, where students learned how the 1936 Olympic Games were used as a propaganda tool during Nazi Germany and how the stadium has since been transformed into the home ground of Hertha Berlin. History came alive in a way no textbook could fully capture.
The year also offered experiences closer to home. Grade 7 travelled to Bornholm, where learning moved into the natural environment. Students explored Hammershus, the island’s dunes and its unique landscapes before transforming their experiences into reports and podcasts, developing their skills in journalism, storytelling and communication.
Students in 8.GF1 took part in a creative bridging programme between Lower Secondary School and Upper Secondary School. Working alongside Upper Secondary teachers, they explored philosophy, advertising and ideas about the good life before creating their own advertising campaigns inspired by both classical philosophical thinking and modern marketing.
For some students, the year began with introductory trips, field studies and community-building activities. Others travelled back in time through educational programmes at Esrum Monastery or explored contemporary topics such as sustainability and social issues. What united all these experiences was the connection between learning and real-world experiences.
Skills for the Future
One of the year's most exciting developments was the launch of NGG’s new MiniMBA programme in partnership with True North. Developed as part of NGG’s five-year Upper Secondary pathways, the programme is built on a simple idea: young people should develop more than academic knowledge alone.
Through workshops and practical learning experiences, students work with self-awareness, collaboration, communication, leadership and innovation. The first modules were completed during the spring, and student feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
The MiniMBA programme supports NGG’s ambition to educate the whole person and prepare students for a future in which personal competencies are just as important as academic knowledge.
Community in Motion
One of the major highlights of the year was Sports Day, where the entire NGG community – from Grade 0 to the Upper Secondary School – came together for a day filled with activity, teamwork and sportsmanship. At Hørsholm Stadium, students from both the Danish and international sections competed in activities such as cricket, volleyball and football, while younger learners took part in games and activities back at school.
Sports Day is a great example of the community that emerges when students of different ages, interests and backgrounds come together through shared experiences. It is not only about winning; it is about being part of something bigger together.
When Talent Takes the Stage
The Spring Concerts provided another powerful example of community in action. Over two evenings, music, singing, dance and performing arts filled the stage as students from across the school showcased what they had worked on throughout the year.
The Spring Concert is one of NGG’s proudest traditions and represents far more than music. It celebrates the courage to perform, the joy of creating something together and the opportunity to develop talents in collaboration with others. Every year, the concerts remind us of the creativity, commitment and strong sense of community that exist among NGG students.
Endings and New Beginnings
The school year culminated in the traditional last day of school celebrations for Grades 9 and 10. The school was filled with creative costumes, sweets, laughter and happy students as another important chapter drew to a close. For some, Upper Secondary School at NGG awaits; for others, new opportunities beyond NGG lie ahead. What they all share are the experiences, friendships and memories they will carry with them into the future.
Looking back on the year in the Lower Secondary School, one thing stands out above all else: a belief in talent. A belief that students develop best when they are challenged academically, recognised as individuals and given opportunities to test their abilities beyond the classroom. It is this belief that has shaped another memorable and inspiring year in the Lower Secondary School at NGG.
