Martinlaakso Upper Secondary School was founded in 1977 and it is a school offering all-round education aimed at the matriculation examination. Our students are between 16 and 20 years of age and they may choose from a wide range of curricular and extracurricular subjects taught by qualified teachers. Our school has about 480 students and 25 teachers.
Our school is easy to access via public transport. The school is located in Vantaa, about 20 minutes by train from the centre of Helsinki, the capital of Finland and about 10 minutes by train from Helsinki Airport, the main international airport in Finland. We share the same school building with a vocational school.
The students at our school can study several different subjects ranging from humanities and natural sciences to several foreign languages and artistic and practical subjects. We also offer our students courses and projects where different subjects are combined. Our upper secondary school also works together with universities and colleges.
The brief presentation of Martinlaakso Upper Secondary School
Special focus on natural sciences and mathematics
Our school has a special focus on natural sciences and mathematics. The selection of courses offered to our students in these subjects is very extensive. We have successfully developed teaching methods in mathematics at a national level. The equipment used in science education is modern and technology is used in various ways. A specific number of our students is selected to a special science programme. These students are expected to show a special interest in natural sciences and focus on science subjects in their studies. Our science teachers cooperate with companies, enterprises and other institutes and some students also get to visit CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, in Geneva, Switzerland.
Long tradition of teaching drama
Our school also has a long tradition of teaching drama. There are several courses of drama and theatrical expression to choose from. Each year our students have different theatre productions. At the end of their studies, students have the possibility to complete an additional diploma in theatre and drama, as well as in visual arts, music and physical education. Many cooperative projects also connect drama to other academic subjects.
Internationally active school
Martinlaakso Upper Secondary School is an internationally active school. The cooperation with our Tanzanian partner school, Kilingi Primary School, has continued for over 30 years. There has been active cooperation and student exchange with two European schools as well – we have partner schools in Potsdam, Germany and in Les Sables d’Olonne, France. In addition, each year our school has different international projects providing students with the opportunity to go abroad (e.g. to Great Britain, Estonia, Spain, Sweden, Russia, Chile).
Functional, modern and welcoming learning environment
Teachers’ and students’ joint celebrations are also very popular. For example the Christmas party and nocturnal mass anticipate the Christmas holiday and in February school-leavers celebrate their last day at school and our 2nd-year students dance old ballroom dances. A warm school meal is offered to every student free of charge every day, as are the services of a nurse and a dentist. The classrooms are equipped with the latest technological devices and both the classrooms as well as the lounge areas are functional and welcoming. We want to provide a caring learning environment for all our students.