Frequently asked questions

What are the admission criteria for the school?

1. English speaking families of foreign researchers or experts or students that have previously been in an English speaking school.
2. The child already has a place in our pre-school.
3. They have a sibling in the school.
4. Length of time on the queue. Admissions for August will be completed by the end of April of each year. We have an August intake, not a January intake.

Do I need to pay a tuition fee?

No. We are not allowed to charge for your child’s education. Our funding comes from the ‘skolpeng’, effectively, the Swedish taxpayer.

May I have a tour of the school?

Due to the high demand for places at the school we cannot offer tours of the school for prospective parents. If you are offered a place at the school, we will organise a tour before you make your final decision.

I am only in Sweden for two years and don’t want my child to go to a Swedish school, can my child be a priority case?

This is not an admission criterion and we recommend that you apply for other schools as well as this one. If you are only here briefly it may be better to follow an IB programme.

Where is my child on the waiting list?

It is not possible to say because if a child is admitted in another class with siblings then those siblings may go above your child. We do not give out positions on the waiting list. We will contact you if a place comes up for your child.

Do I need to renew my application?

Yes. You need to renew your interest each year within 12 months of your last application.

Does it matter where I live in the city?

No. We admit pupils from all over the city. Location is not an admission criterion. You will be wise to consider the amount of time your child spends in travelling to and from school.

Is there a school bus?

No. The school has great communication links to the city. The number 11 tram stops are near to the school, as are the number 114 and 91 bus stops.

Does the school follow an international curriculum?

No. We are a Swedish independent school (‘friskola’) following the Swedish law and curriculum.

Does the school have good standards?

The school gets consistently good results and is frequently amongst the top schools in the west of Sweden. You can see school results and analysis at www.skolverket.se.

Does my child need to know English already? Can my child learn English completely at the school?

Yes. As with all learning, to what extent varies from child to child. Knowing English is not essential but your child will get more out of the lessons if they have a basic ability. The aim of the school as laid down in the statutes is that a child that already has English or a need of English may continue their education in English. If your child has no English they may find another school more enjoyable.

Will my child need to learn Swedish?

Yes. All pupils must learn and pass Swedish in order to move on to the next stage of education.

Will my child receive homework?

Yes. The amount of homework increases as the children get older. Your child will need your support with their homework. You should consider whether your child will be happy to have a lot of homework.

Will my child eat at school?

Yes. School lunches are free and are freshly prepared on the premises. We have a large dining hall.

Will my child be taught about health and sex education?

Yes. Health and Sex education comes under many subjects in high school such as sports and biology. We also liaise with organisations such as Ungdomsmottagningen about teenage sexual health. Health Education also includes topics such as smoking, safety, hygiene, nutrition, alcohol, crime prevention and substance misuse.

Will my child be taught about religion?

Yes. Religion is one of the social studies subjects in high school, taught to all pupils. The school is non-denominational and many different religions are discussed. Students are expected to respect all religions and no single religion is promoted.

Will my child learn how to swim?

Under Swedish law pupils must be able to swim before they leave the school. The school does take pupils to the pool but if they can learn with their family then it will save them from missing other important lessons.

Can I get involved as a parent?

Yes. We have active and supportive parents who fundraise for activities for the class and put on social activities that bring the families together. This is very important in a school where families are spread out across the city.