The Danish Educational System Pre-Primary Education Primary and Lower Secondary Education – The Folkeskole Upper Secondary Education

Pre-Primary Education Kindergartens 4-5-year-olds introduction to school environment separate institutions Pre-School Classes School environment Introduction to basic skills, such as reading and writing

The Folkeskole Comprehensive school covering: Primary: grades 1-6 Lower secondary: grades 7-9/10

The Folkeskole Free education Education compulsory – not school Continuation school Private schoolsFolkeskolen Possible school choices during the first 9 years

The Folkeskole Act Overall aims: Skills and knowledge necessary for further education Desire to learn more Knowledge of Danish culture and history Understanding of other cultures and countries Well-rounded development of the individual student Ability to participate in a free and democratic society

The Folkeskole Act Common and End Objectives: Issued by the Ministry of Education To ensure necessary students’ skills and knowledge To establish end objectives for each subject National Curricula: To provide guidelines for the educational development To provide guidelines for reaching the end objectives

Compulsory subjects The Humanities: Danish in all form levels English and history in form levels 3-9 Social studies in form levels 8-9 Practical/Creative subjects: P.E. in all form levels Music in form levels 1-6 Visual arts in form levels 1-5

Compulsory subjects Science subjects: Maths in all form levels Natural sciences in form levels 1-6 Geography and biology in form levels 7-9 Physics/chemistry in form levels 7-9 Other compulsory educational programmes: Heatlth, sexual, family studies, road safety Educational, labour market orientation

Other specifics Undivided school Classes formed according to age An average of app. 20 students per class Max 28 students per class Class teacher for each class: Usually Danish teacher Overall responsibility for the class

Evaluation and Tests Regular evaluations carried out: To ensure students’ levels in accordance with common objectives To provide guidance for the learning of the individual Official student plans drawn up Marks on a 7-point scale in form levels 8-9 School-leaving exams for form levels 9- 10

Upper Secondary Education Four Upper Secondary Education Programmes: STX: 3 years. Broad range of subjects in the humanities, natural science and social science HF: 2 years. Focus as above HHX: 3 years. Focus on business and socio-economic disciplines HTX: 3 years. Focus on technology and science