School

Last updated: 16/5-2023

All children have the right to an education. The municipality is obliged to offer you a place in school. Read here about what rules apply and about what support you can be given in order to be able to attend Swedish school.

The right to education

You are entitled to attend preschool, preschool class, compulsory school or special needs compulsory school, special access school, and a day recreation centre.

If you are an asylum seeker, you are entitled to attend upper secondary school or special needs upper secondary school if you begin your studies before you turn 18.

If you have a residence permit, you are entitled to attend upper secondary school or special needs upper secondary school up to and including the first half of the calendar year in which you turn 20.

Compulsory school attendance

Compulsory school attendance means the you have to attend school unless there is a legitimate reason not to do so.

If you are attending compulsory school, have a residence permit and are registered, or are going to be registered, as resident in a municipality, you are subject to compulsory school attendance. Compulsory school attendance begins in the autumn term of the year you turn six and usually applies for ten years. Compulsory school attendance corresponds to the right to an education.

Contact your municipality

Your municipality is obliged to offer you a place in school. If you are an asylum seeker you have to begin compulsory school or be offered a place in upper secondary school as soon as possible, and preferably no later than a month after you arrived in Sweden. If you have a residence permit you have to begin compulsory school or be offered a place in upper secondary school as soon as possible.

Assessment of previous knowledge

Assessment in compulsory school

When you begin compulsory school, the school staff need to assess what previous knowledge you have. The assessment takes your age, previous knowledge and personal circumstances into account. Within two months of you starting school, the head teacher at the school has to decide which year and class you are going to attend. The assessment of your knowledge is also used in the continued planning of your education. An interpreter or a teacher who speaks your native language is used during the assessment.

Assessment in upper secondary school

In upper secondary school, teachers have to make a continuing assessment of your knowledge. This assessment is the basis of your continued education.

Upper secondary school attendance is voluntary. In upper secondary school you can study on various national programmes or an introductory programme. National programmes include vocational programmes and preparatory programmes for subsequent higher education.

In order to attend a vocational programme you need to have Pass grades in Swedish or Swedish as a Second Language, English, Mathematics, and in another five subjects. In other words you need Pass grades in a total of eight subjects.

In order for you to be able to attend a preparatory programme you have to have a Pass grade in Swedish or Swedish as a Second Language, English, Mathematics, as well as in another nine subjects. In other words, a Pass grade is required in twelve subjects in total.

If you are not qualified to attend any of the national programmes you can attend one of the introductory programmes. These are flexible in terms of the pace, scope and content of studies. Introductory programmes also have to be adaptable to your previous knowledge and needs.

Preparatory class

You can be offered teaching in a preparatory class for a maximum of two years. The aim of studying one or more subjects in a preparatory class is to enable you to participate in ordinary classes as soon as possible. In preparatory class you study various subjects while at the same time learning the basics of the Swedish language.

You cannot be offered all your lessons in this class. What proportion of your lessons will be in preparatory class and what proportion in ordinary class varies from person to person. It is the head teacher at the school who decides how teaching is organised.

The teacher has to assess your knowledge in the various subjects you are studying in preparatory class. When the teacher determines that you are able to participate in the ordinary class in a given subject, you have to attend those lessons instead.

Swedish as a Second Language

In compulsory school you can study Swedish or Swedish as a Second Language. If Swedish in not your native language you can study Swedish as a Second Language if you need to. The head teacher at each school decides if you can study Swedish as a Second Language. You, your guardian or your specially appointed custodial guardian can contact the head teacher at your school if you need to study Swedish as a Second Language. In upper secondary school you can take the Swedish or the Swedish as a Second Language course.

Priority timetable

In compulsory school you can have a priority timetable. This means that you receive more teaching in Swedish or Swedish as a Second Language.

In order for you to have more time for Swedish, lessons in other subjects have to taken off the timetable. The total number of lessons is the same, but teaching time is redistributed so that there is more time for Swedish or Swedish as a Second Language. The head teacher at the school decides if you are going to have a priority timetable. You can have a priority timetable for a maximum of one year.

Native language lessons

You may be entitled to native language lessons if your native language is not Swedish. You are entitled to native language lessons in compulsory and upper secondary school if certain requirements are met. If you want to have native language lessons you have to apply for it. You, your guardian or your specially appointed custodial guardian should ask the school what you have to do and what the requirements are.

Study guidance in your native language

Study guidance in your native language is important in order for you to be able to make use of the knowledge and skills you already possess. You have to be given study guidance in your native language if you need it. Contact the teacher or head teacher at the school for more information about study guidance.