Here, 99% of students complete upper secondary education.
With only one subject a day, students receive academic challenges in a safe environment at Metis High School – right in the center of Bergen.
The excitement at Metis High School is palpable when the students, literally, hit the nail on the head and put knowledge into practice with a hammer and saw. With only one subject a day, the school has made sure that learning, in-depth study and mastery are a natural part of the school day.
– One subject a day gives us the opportunity to work actively to create a safe and good learning environment. I believe this is one of the main reasons why as many as 99% of our students complete upper secondary education on time, says Kjartan Navarsete, principal at Metis Upper Secondary School.
The students in Technology and Research Studies are working on a windmill project that will be included in a competition organized by NTNU. They have been working theoretically on the project throughout the fall, but now they will have the opportunity to use geometry and physical laws through the construction of the windmill. The goal is to win the Ocean Space Race competition.
Joakim Rasmussen instructs students in building wind turbines for NTNU's Ocean Spacerace competition. Photo: Schibsted Partnerstudio
- Easier to go in depth
Metis High School has introduced block days, where students only have one subject per day. This gives them the opportunity to work focused and thoroughly on each subject.
One of the students, Einar Olav Bø Tvedt, screws a screw into the truss of the windmill and says that this is the most fun he has had in a long time.
– Since we have block days, we may have a competitive advantage. It's easier to go into depth when we can work several hours continuously on a project.
Tvedt has ambitions to attend the Norwegian School of Economics or NTNU after completing high school.
“I want to be an engineer or an economist,” he says.
Tvedt applied to Metis High School partly because his friends had also applied.
– It's a good school that's easy to get to. It only takes 20–30 minutes by bus from Bønes to get to the school.
Time and peace to immerse yourself in all subjects
The media and communication students are spread out in the classroom working on animating a game while the teacher, Sigbjørn Vågenes, goes from student to student and helps with tips and technical challenges.
Helene Tellnes Helle's fingers glide over the touchpad on her Mac – which all students are given when they start school. She designs a sunset as the atmospheric background for her game.
– The concept is to create an idea for a game. We will present our fictional game during the day, says Helene.
Helene Tellnes Helle, student at Metis High School.
Helene has experienced a big change since she started at Metis High School.
– It's fine in all settings. I've had difficulty concentrating before. But here I get the time and peace to immerse myself in all subjects. The problem with concentrating has gone away more and more, she says.
In addition to having more time and peace to work on projects at school, students can also use the school's equipment in their free time.
“The school allows you to work on your own projects in your free time. We have the opportunity to make commercials for companies and borrow equipment from the school,” says Helene, putting the finishing touches on her sunset.
Photo: Schibsted Partner Studio
Moved from Son to be the best
Bergen is known for nurturing sports stars in many different sports. Swimming in particular has become an integral part of the sports community in Bergen since the ADO Arena opened in 2014.
Metis Upper Secondary School offers top-level sports as a separate field of study, where students also receive special study qualifications. With this combination and only a five-minute walk from Metis to the ADO arena, the school was a natural choice for the great talent Helje Stavaas (18) from Son.
– I could choose between all the top sports schools in Norway. But after a private tour of Metis, I was pretty much sold, says the swimming talent with ten Norwegian records in the junior class.
To become a top athlete, you have to prioritize very hard. 24 hours a day must be divided between training, school, rest and social activity. The combination of a central school, a short walk to the swimming pool and adapted teaching is essential to make it happen.
– In top sports, we have adapted teaching. I have to leave early every day to train. Having enough time to train, while also gaining special study skills, was crucial, says the great talent.
Photo: Schibsted Partner Studio
School in the city center
Metis High School is located just a stone's throw from the city station in Bergen city center, with all transport hubs in close proximity.
The school offers Specialization in Studies, Specialization in Top Sports, Media and Communication, and Sales, Service and Tourism.
The timetable at Metis has full block scheduling in almost all subjects. The goal is one subject per day, but to increase the number of hours, there are some days with two subjects.
With a short distance to the swimming pool, Media City, museums and business in general, the school is perfectly located to provide students with opportunities, challenges and variety in their teaching.
Assistant principal Siren Losnegaard together with principal Kjartan Navarsete. – The teachers were skeptical when we first tried block days in 2008. The agreement was that we would switch back to the traditional schedule after the autumn holidays if it didn't work. But there was a completely different calm at school, says assistant principal Siren Losnegard. Photo: Cecilie Bannow
Relationship building and a good school environment
Maria, Emma and Emma Louise, among others, are in classroom 210, teaching the subject Politics and Human Rights. They watch closely as the teacher puts on NRK's Political Quarter on the big screen.
Today it is about the Government's Ukraine package. The teacher, Kasper Sæverås, has planned the first part of the day for discussion about what the students understand from what is discussed in "Political Quarter". The teaching consists of various elements such as presentation, discussion, lecture, group discussions and games.
– I am convinced that it is good for the school environment that we have more time. It forces me to teach in different ways with activities and academic play.
– The relationship building that can be done in two block days could perhaps have taken two months with a traditional schedule, says Sæverås.
Kasper Sæverås teaches politics and human rights at Metis High School.
He has been teaching politics and human rights and history at Metis for 13 months. He believes that relationship building is the most important part of the job.
“Creating an atmosphere where the social environment makes everyone feel safe is perhaps the most important part of the job. And it becomes easier when you can work with the students for six hours at a time instead of one hour here and one hour there,” he says.
Kasper Sæverås teaches Politics and Human Rights at Metis High School. Photo: Schibsted Partnerstudio
Takes breaks as needed
Emma Louise Ruud says that the teachers are good at adapting teaching based on the students' energy levels.
– They are good at interpreting the mood and energy in the room. If they see that we are tired, they have the flexibility to take a longer break and switch activities.
Classmate Maria Eikeseth agrees and appreciates the predictability of the block days.
– We don't have to change classrooms between classes or bring more books with us.
– I think I would have quit teaching if it weren't for the block days. It gives me a lot of freedom. If I see the students are tired, I change the plan. If we discover something cool, we can explore it instead.
On the days Wiliam does not have block lessons, he spends time with those who need help from him as a mentor.
– Here at Metis you get to try out what you learn. Knowledge should be used for something. I am more concerned with the students being able to create something from what they learn than with them being able to reproduce it.
William Hocking (right) and Joakim Rasmussen. William is a teacher of technology and research studies, science and chemistry. Photo: Schibsted Partnerstudio
Challenge yourself and learn more
The school focuses on safety and well-being, says principal Kjartan Navarsete.
– We have our own mentors for the students, a social worker and a full-time health nurse, he says. The principal is concerned that the students should be able to challenge themselves, feel a sense of mastery and team spirit. Last fall, the teachers and students participated in the Trolljegerprøven and competed against each other.
– Metis High School is a forward-looking and engaging school. We do not just focus on subjects, but on the whole person, concludes the principal.
– We are committed to ensuring that students dare to challenge themselves and be best prepared for their studies after high school. You must dare to try something you have not done before. If you dare to challenge yourself, you will learn more! You may make mistakes along the way, and that is perfectly fine. We can learn from that! At Metis, you will learn more, whether you are a student, teacher or principal.
Photo: Tove Lise Mossestad