Court backs Fons Vitae Lyceum over student’s promotion

An Amsterdam judge upheld Fons Vitae Lyceum’s decision not to promote a first-year student to the second year of havo, a Dutch secondary-school level.

The student’s mother had asked the court to require the school to let him move up.

She said he needed more support because he was still learning Dutch and had been through an emotionally difficult year.

The judge found that the school had justified its decision using more than grades, including his work pace, understanding of lessons and the support provided for his language needs.

His results were not strong enough for havo, and the school does not offer vmbo, a lower secondary-school level.

He will have to leave the school for a lower level, and the judge said there was no clear error or lack of care that would justify overturning the school’s decision.