The Swedish School System The Swedish National Agency for Education

How are the preschools and schools steered? A goal steered system with a high degree of local responsibility. The Swedish Parliament and the Government draw up the overall national goals regarding -the Education Act -the curricula -the school ordinance, the upper secondary school ordinance, and the adult education ordinance -the syllabuses for compulsory school -the syllabuses for subjects that are common for all programmes at the upper secondary school -the diploma goals for the upper secondary school.

National Agencies The Swedish National Agency for Education (NAE) The Swedish Schools Inspectorate Regular supervision of all schools, may make use of sanctions. Quality audits – special matter or problem area. Applications and licences for independent education providers The Child and School Student Representative (BEO). The National Agency for Special Needs Education Support to special schools, run special needs schools.

Tasks of the NAE Steering documents We set the frames and guidelines on how the education is to be carried out. National school development We support the development of preschools and schools with the aim of achieving greater goal attainment. Evaluation We evaluate activities through in-depth studies and analyses. Follow-up We follow-up school activities, how they are carried out, and how results can be improved. Teacher certification We make decisions on the certification of preschool teachers and teachers.

Organisation

The NAE's steering instruments The National Agency for Education draws up and decides on: -syllabuses for the compulsory school, the compulsory school for learning disabilities, the Sami school and the special school -subject syllabuses for the upper secondary school -knowledge requirements for all school forms -Regulations -general guidelines. Education providers have primary responsibility for distributing resources and organising activities so that pupils attain the national goals. Based on this, each preschool, school and leisure-time centre chooses the working approaches most appropriate for them. The work is followed up by means of systematic quality assessment.

Education providers The main responsibility lies with the municipalities and the organisers of independent schools and schools. no county-level governance 290 municipalities approx. 600 independent providers ”voucher system” financed on tax funds – no fees obliged to follow the Eduaction Act - Equal terms for all education providers and schools considerable differences in capacity national and local requirements.

Det svenska utbildningssystemet

Preschool A school form for children aged 1-5 years. Voluntary, general preschool from the age of 3, or from the age of 1 if this is needed because of parents' work or studies or the child's own needs. Should ”stimulate the child's development and learning, and also provide a secure care environment."

Preschool class Voluntary school form, free of charge for children aged six. Covers a minimum of 525 hours per school year. Should ”stimulate pupils' development and learning and prepare them for further education.” Combines the working approaches and methods of the preschool and school.

Compulsory school education Compulsory school attendance starts when the child reaches the age of seven. Compulsory school attendance is the norm in compulsory school. Compulsory schools are run by municipal or private education providers.

Alternatives to the compulsory school The compulsory school for pupils with learning disabilities, sometimes together with the training school, has its own curriculum and syllabuses, for years with the option of an additional year. The special school (state), 5 regional schools - hearing, 3 national schools, years 1 – 10. The Sami school (state), years international schools, 3 national boarding schools, special youth homes and Swedish schools abroad.

Leisure-time centres Supplements the school for pupils aged between 6-13 years. Should ”stimulate pupils' development and also provide them with meaningful recreational activities.” ”… to the extent needed with regard to parents' work or studies, or the pupil's own need.”

The upper secondary school All pupils who have completed compulsory schooling are offered upper secondary education by their home municipality. The right to start an upper secondary education applies to students up to the age of 20. Free of charge and voluntary.

Admission requirements Vocational programmes Pass grades in Swedish or Swedish as a second language English Mathematics Five other compulsory school subjects. Higher education preparatory programmes Pass grades in Swedish or Swedish as a second language English Mathematics Eight other compulsory school subjects.

Education in upper secondary school Vocational programmes/ Apprenticeship education Child and Recreation Building and Construction Electricity and Energy Vehicle and Transport Business and Administration Handicraft Hotel and Tourism Industrial technology Natural Resource Use Restaurant Management and Food HVAC and Property Management Health and Social Care. Higher education preparatory programmes Business Management and Economics Arts Humanities Natural Science Social Science Technology. Introductory programmes  Preparatory education  Programme oriented individual options  Vocational introduction  Individual alternative  Language introduction.

Nationally determined differences  Special variants  Education with nationwide admission with its own diploma goals  Cutting-edge education  Professional dance education  Sports education.

Diploma goals Orientation Upper secondary foundation subjects Programme specialisations Individual options Programme specific subjects Diploma project

Alternatives to the upper secondary school Upper secondary school for learning disabilities International schools National boarding schools IB education Distance education at upper secondary level in Torsås Special institutions (state) (Swedish schools abroad).

Municipal adult education Basic adult education from the age of 20. Upper secondary municipal adult education from the age of 20 or completion of a national programme or equivalent education. Special education for adults. Swedish tuition for immigrants (SFI). Students from vocational programmes have the right to attain basic eligibility for higher education.

Pupil assessment Formative assessment; developement dialogue; written developement plan: national tests. Compulsory school: End of semester reports, year 6-9, pilot scheme year 4 (2017). Literacy and numeracy from year 1 (New). Upper secondary: Completed course, diploma project, final diploma. No final exams.

Grading scale In the compulsory school for learning disabilities, grades are only awarded if the pupil, or the pupil's guardian requests this. F or a (–) dash are not used in the compulsory school for learning disabilities. Pass level

How Sweden differs from other countries Equality of education The voucher system – government funds following the choice of school. The same expectations on all education providers at local level, regardless of their circumstances. Responsible authorities do not evaluate their schools on an equal basis. The teachers Teaching is not an attractive choice of career. There is no central wage formation. Teacher appraisal is underdeveloped. Teachers do not have support staff. Long-term conditions The municipalisation reform and school choice system have contributed to increase school segregation. Municipalities can lose their mandate every fourth year, and might not have any knowledge about schools and education.

Teacher Training Education Preschool programme Compulsory teacher programme Subject teacher programme Vocational teacher programme UKÄ, the Swedish Higher Education Authority Huge lack of teachers Alternative ways, boosts.

Top priority challenges Newly arrived pupils Including all newly arrived pupils into ordinary education as soon as possible. Educational equity All schools must be developed into good schools. The teachers Ensure supply of competent teachers. Provide prerequisites for improved quality of teaching. Long-term conditions Consistency and support for continued implementation of reforms and local development.