1. The Swedish Education System
Kristina Björkegren Linder

2. Det svenska utbildningssystemet

3. A School Equal for All
All children and young people in Sweden, irrespective of gender, place of residence or social and financial situation, shall have equal access to education in the public school system. All children shall be offered a place by their home municipality in the appropriate forms of education.

4. A School Free for all
All education in the public school system is free of charge for pupils and is funded entirely by the public authorities

5. A Municipal Commitment
Municipal responsibility for schools is based on self-government and democracy. This means citizens should be close to the decision-making process, giving them the opportunity to influence schools and adapt them to local needs. Among their duties, municipalities:
• Provide preschool activities and education for their residents. • Set goals and make decisions about preschools and other education. • Set priorities and allocate resources. • Fund independent schools for students registered in the municipality. • Act as the employer for teachers and other school staff.

6. The National Steering System
Follow up of results, quality
assessment,
inspection
Statistical data
Evaluation of quality
Curriculum, legislation
Political Activity Plan
Lokal Activity Plan

7. Steering documents A) Government B) Municipality C) School Curriculum
National objectives
National programme goals (upper secondary schools)
Education Act
Regulation of primary, secondary and adult schools
B) Municipality
Educational plan
Plan of activities
C) School
- Local working plan

8. The Swedish school system
Pre-school class - non-compulsory 6 years age
Compulsory school – 16
Upper secondary school - non-compulsory
Adult education - non-compulsory

9. Preschool
Nursery school and pre school are open to children from one to five years of age

10. Pre-school Class
Municipalities are obligated to provide a place in a pre-school class for all children from the age of 6.
The program is to stimulate the learning and development of each child. As well as lay the foundation for continued learning

11. Compulsory Education
Includes regular compulsory school, Sami school, special school and programs for pupils with learning disabilities
The 9-year compulsory school program is for all children between the ages of 7-16 years

12. Alternatives in 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
The Sami school (state), years 1-6.
There are also other options, e.g. 7 international schools, 3 national boarding schools, special youth homes and Swedish schools abroad.

13. Grading Scale

14. Upper secondary school
All youth who have finished secondary school will be offered upper secondary education in their home municipality.
Upper secondary school is free of charge and volontary.

15. Open for all pupils - approved by the National Agency for Education
Independent Schools
The right to choose school, regardless of principal organiser is free for all
Open for all pupils - approved by the National Agency for Education
Follow the same objectives as municipal schools
The municipality in which the student resides pays the school a per student/per year grant

16. Funding for Independent schools
Grants from pupils home municipalities
The amount of the grant is to be paid according to the same criteria the municipality applies when distributing resources to the schools within its own organisation

17. Stockholm growing at record pace
Stockholm County
City of Stockholm
Population
2,500,000
2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
50,000
1990
2000
2010
2020
2030
By 2030, the population of the Stockholm region is expected to grow by about 500,000.
Approximately 880,000 people currently live in the City of Stockholm, which is more than ever before.
If the City continues growing at the same rate, the population will reach one million by 2022.
It is gratifying that so many people want to relocate to Stockholm. At the same time, it creates a need in terms of housing, accessibility and service, as well as systematic and ambitious environmental work.

18. Stockholm children and pupils – numbers and choice of school
Almost 55,000 children go to pre-schools, over 80,000 pupils are in compulsory schooling, and over 25,000 go to upper secondary schools.
Of these:
19,000 choose to go to independent pre-schools
17,000 choose independent compulsory schools and
10,000 choose independent upper secondary schools

19. Costs and Compensation in Stockholm
A school voucher coupled to every child in the municipality.
In addition to the standard allowance socio-economic factors such as foreign origin, parental level of education and income generates a higher school voucher

20. Challenges for Stockholm
Boom in compulsory school - dipp in upper secondary school - locating and constructing new school buildings
Aging workforce – retirement
Lack of interest for teaching as a profession

21. Leisure-time centres – ages 6-12

22. A municipal commitment
Municipalities must provide childcare for school-age children up to the age of 12.
Can take the form of open leisure-time activities in which the children are not formally enrolled
Open leisure time activities are a voluntary alternative for children who do not need the care and supervision provided at leisure-time centres

23. Leisure-time centres follow the national curriculum
The fundamental values of our society and the goals and tasks of Swedish schools and leisure- time centres

24. The Education Act on Leisure-time centres
Childrens groups must be of appropriate size and composition
Premises must be suitable for the purpose
Programmes should be based on the need of each child
Staff must have necessary qualifications

25. A complement to school
School and leisure-time centre staff often work closely together throughout the day
The leisure-time centres complement school:
In terms of time – by welcoming children outside school hours and during school holidays
In terms of content – by giving children experiences and knowledge that are somewhat different to what they get in school.

26. Key role in learning Children learn in every context
Staff have the task of combining child-care and learning, to learn social skills and independence, respect diversity and differences of opinion and that compromise is sometimes necessary

27. Meaningful recreation that supports child development
Safe, fun and stimulating environment with the focus on play, creativity and physical activity.
Activitities should be designed according to age, maturity, needs, interests and experiences.

28. Cooperation
Close cooperation between parents and staff is crucial to make the child safe and secure at the leisure-time centre
Parents are encouraged to give their opinion to develop the activities

29. Premises and outdoor environment
The municipality should ensure that the out-door environment and premises are:
Secure, safe, healthy and formative
Designed to enable good, varied teaching activities that support learning and development, in groups and individually

30. Diet and physical activity
Nutricious meals in a pleasent atmosphere can contribute to the establishment of good eating habits

31. Goals Equality between boys and girls Inclusion Multicultural
Children particiation and influence
Social skills and independence
Special support

32. Empowering children
By expressing their thoughts and views children can gain an understanding of how democracy works