The aim of the school is to provide a Liberal Education undertaken in an environment where it is safe to take intellectual risks and which encourages independent thought, self-confidence, creativity and imagination. The School community values close interaction characterized by integrity and a respect for others’ differences.

The main objective of the curriculum is, as the name of the school implies, the focus on English language studies. Naturally, English is the first foreign language at the school. It is strongly emphasized in the programme through an extended number of English lessons and English Conversation classes; some chapters of Geography, World History, Biology, and Social Studies are taught also in English. In the school year 2004/05, CAG introduced a new prog ramme in teaching advanced English for students aged 17-19 called “Streaming.” This innovative programme enables the students to focus on a preferred specialization in English (Business, Science, Literature, Political Science & Journalism); in October 2009, the school was  awarded a prestigious European language prize Label for the project Streaming. In addition, the students can select a further language sub-specialization in International Language Exams City & Guilds ESOL/IESOL , EBC (English for Business Communication), or SETB (Spoken English Test for Business). In November 2008, our school became an approved  City & Guilds Centre for con ducting the above mentioned English language exams. Thanks to that, the students have a unique chance to obtain a language certificate directly at school, which serves as a direct proof of their language competence.

Admittedly, the role of English is far more involved. English as a means of communication forms the basis of school life. Various activities of interest are offered in which the students can take part. Thus, the students, encouraged by their teachers, publish a school magazine, perform theatre plays, and hold various social and sport events, all based on communicating in English.  Our students participate also on a regular basis in annual national sessions of the Youth European Parliament & Czech Forum, which enable them to get directly involved in topical EU and other worldwide weighty issues utilizing English as the common communicative tool.  In 2007, our school team, which won the national contest, represented the Czech Republic at the 47th International Session of the EYP in Dublin. Another (scientifically- minded) extracurricular activity offered the students is the GLOBE Programme. The school has been participating in the GLOBE project since 1997. GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) is a worldwide school-based scientific and educational programme. The students do daily atmosphere measurements (e.g. precipitation - rain or snow - including precipitation pH, air temperature, relative humidity, cloud cover and type), weekly hydrology measurements (e.g. transparency, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH) and also semi-annual land cover measurements. CAG students have contributed more than 13 thousand measurements to the GLOBE database; all the data are accessible on the web pages www.globe.gov.

GLOBE students work in close partnership with NASA and NSF (National Science Foundation) in study and research about the dynamics of Earth's environment. The students had a possibility to consult their research directly with two scientists from NASA who visited our school a couple of years ago. Additionally, CAG works on other projects, such as Ozone (measuring of surface ozone) and Carbon Cycle (investigating the carbon cycle in terrestrial ecosystems) within the GLOBE program.

Other popular activities at the school have always been the celebrations of traditional English and American holidays. The students do not just learn about Anglo-American festivals, they live them. The one with the longest tradition is Halloween. Then, with the majority of foreign teachers being American, Thanksgiving Day was introduced and has become a cherished  tradition. Guy Fawke’s Night, St Patrick’s Day, Pancake Day, as well as Remembrance Day are also special occasions at CAG. Another- already traditional- celebration is the annual Christmas concert of the school students’ choir held at the former Dominican Monastery at the Piaristické square in Č. Budějovice. Furthermore, two years ago, the school’s English department launched a new educational activity focused primarily on Anglo-American Studies called  ”Experience Realia of English-Speaking Countries in Your Own Shoes”; the purpose of it is to hold a week dedicated to a particular country containing discussions with invited guests, slide shows, gastronomic presentations, movie & literary clubs, competitions, etc., all focused on getting authentic experience.  This programme combines knowledge, fun, personal experience, as well as a natural language practice.

The school offers its students a wide scope of outdoor courses (cycling, paddling, skiing) and a one- week team-building and social-orientation course for newcomers called “Kalokagathia“. 

  The Anglo-Czech High School is a private school established in 1992 as one of the first private high schools in Č. Budějovice providing a four-year secondary education to students aged 15 to 19. In 1995, the eight-year scheme for 11 to 19-year-old students was begun as well. Currently, the school has about 300 students. The number of students in each class ranges from 16 to 30 (maximum). The school’s annual tuition in the school year 2009/10 lies between 26,000 (for lower classes) to 28,000 Czech Crowns (for upper classes).

Since the school is orientated as a university prep, all of the senior students (100% in 2009) decided to continue their studies at universities in the Czech Republic or abroad; starting in September 2008 and 2009, three of our graduates launched their terciary  studies in the UK (University of Manchester- Arabistics;  New Castle University- Business; Sheffield-Psychology) and one of our student began her studies at Harvard College in the USA. Additionally, two current senior students will enter the University at Sussex (Anthropology) and Nazareth College in the USA after being successful at entry examination procedure this year.

 

The school operates in an economically stable area with a long tradition of high-quality secondary education.  CAG’s student body is more or less homogenous (the majority of our students are of Czech nationality). However, the school seeks also to integrate students of nationalities other than Czech (Belorussian, Ukrainian, Russian, Dutch, Vietnamese, as well as Rotary students from Canada, the USA, Mexico, etc.).  CAG also caters for the needs of a few students with disabilities. In addition, annually, the school offers 12 social stipends to capable students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

students‘ use;  it is  located in a safe and calm neighbourhood of the capital of the South-Bohemian region, České Budějovice. The school is easily accessible by common means of city transportation.

Regarding the teaching staff, at the present, there are 30 full-qualified teachers and 2 administrators. Three of CAG’ English teachers (1999/2000, Jan Muzik , Florida; 2001/02  Ivana Procházková, New York; 2004/05,  and Štěpánka Kloudová, Idaho) have participated in the prestigious Fulbright programme for secondary teachers in the USA.

Currently, there are eight native speakers contributing to the school’s overall multicultural  environment; there are four  native speakers teaching English Conversation classes at school: Karey Rawitscher (USA), Paul Stang (USA), Petra Klee (being of Czech & American nationality), Steve Muckley (Ireland); as other foreign languages are offered besides English, the school is extremely fortunate to also host the following foreign teachers:  Jesus Castillo teaching Spanish (Peru), Francois Dendoncker(Belgium) teaching French and ultimately, Michael Hofmann (Germany) teaching German. Apart from that, CAG hosts a Comenius assistent, Katharina Hinteregger, from Austrria at our school assisting in Spanish, German, and English lessons.

To achieve high academic standards and also to promote a deeper understanding of different cultures, values and other aspects of life in English speaking countries, as well as other European  and non-European ones, the school  tends to promote strong personal contacts abroad. We are lucky to cooperate with Haygrove School in Bridgewater, Richard Huish College in Taunton, and Churchfield School in Swindon (all the UK), which have enabled  our students to experience authentic contacts with their Enlgish counterparts and their families in England. These programmes would not have come into being if it were not for the kind support of the Czech-Slovak Friendship Society in Bridgewater. Apart from these exchange programmes, the school organises two trips to England officially called “Practise English in England “ ; the first for the Tercie class, the other for the 1st year class.

Since 2002, the school has been involved into a supranational European programme Comenius 1, which is supported and funded by the EU; thanks to that, CAG has established firm bonds with other European countries with which we cooperate on a regular basis since then;  therefore, we found new, dedicated  friends in:

Besides the above mentioned partner schools, it is necessary to highlight a very successful cooperation with other schools abroad, such as: