Education and Schools in Sweden

Education and schools in Sweden are recognised for their excellent standards, with the national curriculum emphasising innovation. Schooling is compulsory and free for children between the ages of 6 and 16. Apart from public schools run by the government, you also have the choice of independent schools funded by the government but run by independent entities.

There are few tuition-paying schools, many of which are international schools offering foreign curricula. Compulsory education also includes Sami schools (sameskolor), which educate the Sami indigenous children.

Public schools in Sweden

Public schools in Sweden are open to all and follow the Swedish national curriculum. These schools are administrated by the local municipality in which they are located and funded by taxes.

Children in Sweden start school when they are six years old, and the education system in Sweden runs as follows:

• Compulsory education consists of förskoleklass (‘preschool year’ or Year 0)
• lågstadiet (Years 1 to 3)
• mellanstadiet (Years 4 to 6) 
• and högstadiet (Years 7 to 9)

This is followed by gymnasieskola (upper secondary school, Years 10 to 12), which is not compulsory. Most children do fulfil secondary education to get good jobs in the future. The requirements for admission to gymnasieskola are stringent, and as such the government has introduced four introductory programmes for students who do not qualify for upper secondary school. These programmes allow children to either go into employment or provide bridging courses for them to move on to a national programme. 

Most children in Sweden go to public schools, and the teaching is of a high standard. That said, the language of instruction is Swedish, making public schools unsuitable for older expat children. Fortunately, there are several international schools that you can send your children to in Sweden.

Useful links

• Swedish National Agency for Education

Independent schools in Sweden 

In Sweden, independent schools are known as friskolor. Though government-funded, these schools are run by individuals, associations, or foundations. Like public schools, independent schools must follow the Swedish national curriculum and gain approval from the Swedish School Inspectorate. Friskolor can be attended free of charge.

International schools in Sweden 

International schools in Sweden offer the curriculum of a foreign country, such as that of the UK or the US, or other globally recognised qualifications, such as the International Baccalaureate. These schools are primarily intended for students living in Sweden temporarily or under special circumstances.

International schools expect high yearly fees and applications must be submitted by contacting the school directly. Extra fees might apply if the children are not registered with their local municipality and do not have a Swedish personal number. We recommend carefully budgeting for international schools or negotiating an education allowance with your employer to help cover the costs. 

Most international schools welcome children of all nationalities, including Swedish children. That said, these schools may have long waiting lists, so it’s best for parents to plan ahead and apply for a spot for their children as early as possible.

Special-needs education in Sweden

The National Agency for Special Needs Education and Schools (Specialpedagogiska skolmyndigheten) manages special-needs education in Sweden. Children with special needs are kept in mainstream schools as far as possible, and receive individualised extra support per an action plan drawn up by the school principal. In cases where mainstream schooling cannot provide the required support, a multidisciplinary team assesses the child and may recommend entry into a special-needs programme or a special school.

Useful links

• The National Agency for Special Needs Education and Schools – List of special-needs schools

Tutors in Sweden

Education is highly valued in Sweden, and parents regularly use private tuition to bolster their children's learning. As an expat parent, you'll also often employ tutors, whether for Swedish language lessons, extra help with certain subjects, or simply to help your child build some confidence in an unfamiliar environment. 

Tutoring can be massively beneficial regardless of age. Some top tutoring companies in Sweden include Studybuddy, Allakando, and My Academy.

Useful links

• Studybuddy
• Allakando
• My Academy