School Blog

Internationella Engelska Skolan has special permission from Skolinspektionen for each of our 29 schools to provide up to half of the teaching in the English language.  In chapter 2, 17 § of the Swedish school law, a permanent exception from Swedish teacher certification is granted for those teachers we employ to teach in English and who have a teaching degree from their home country.

49 percent of our teachers have a foreign background.

To teach subjects including maths and science, we recruit teachers from Canada, USA and the UK.  We dare say that their teacher training is superior to the Swedish teacher training. This is reflected by the fact that our results in these subjects on the national tests in year 9 are far higher than the norm for Swedish schools.  At present we have about 600 teachers with a foreign teacher qualification, which is an essential contribution to the Swedish school’s internationalization.

Up to half of the teaching in our schools is done in English, primarily by teachers from English-speaking countries. English is to be used as our conversational language in the corridors and classrooms. Our schools are characterized by an international atmosphere.  The mixture of teachers from many different countries contributes to this.  IES promotes full bilingualism – skills in Swedish are developed in parallel to English.

Barbara Bergström founded Internationella Engelska Skolan in 1993, based on three pillars  that still characterize Internationella Engelska Skolan:

• A safe and orderly school environment in which teachers can teach and students learn
• High academic expectations and ambitions
• Command of the English language

Swedish teachers are also subject to detailed scrutiny, primarily by the principal of a school to ensure that they do possess the required competence and share those beliefs that created Internationella Engelska Skolan.

Below is a summary of the distribution of teachers with Swedish or international degrees:

Dear Students and Guardians

Thank you all for a successful start of our new school! During the first few weeks we have experienced a fantastic atmosphere in our school. Not only between adults and students, but also between the students themselves. I am very impressed at how all of the students have accepted our rules and how eager they are to learn and study. It is truly amazing to see!

I can proudly say that we have managed to establish a very calm learning environment, laying the foundation for future academic success.

Aside from the successful start of the school – we also experienced a positive inauguration where the school was honoured to welcome the founder and chairperson of IES, Ms. Barbara Bergström. We are now looking forward to an autumn term focusing on the academics and continue to build the international school for northern Skåne!

Despite some furniture still being missing, most books have arrived, computer carts have been assembled and lots of other material is coming in every day. We are also looking forward to our first Student Choice Days that will take place in the beginning of November.

On the downside, we have experienced some traffic issues when many students want to go, or arrive, with the same bus. Mr. Price has gone into all of the classes to educate in traffic safety and we have requested a reduced speed limit and new crossings from the municipality - we are currently awaiting their response.

We have also successfully started to collaborate with the municipality when it comes to home language, and are in the processes of ensuring that as many of our home language students as possible are provided with education.

Image: Now Open. Ms Barbara Bergström and Mr Chris Nilsson cut the ribbon to officially open IES Hässleholm

Three new IES schools have now opened their doors, welcoming students for the first time.

All three new schools, in Hässleholm, Kista and Umeå,  held official opening ceremonies at the start of the school year, seeing ribbons cut in front of the schools and apple trees planted in the grounds.

As well as being an important event for students and staff, the ceremonies attracted interest from politicians, the media, and of course the parents of the students who will be attending the schools.

Speaking in from of parents and students in Hässleholm Mr Nilsson, the Principal, said: "We are committed to delivering a safe and calm working environment in which teachers can teach and students learn.

"I know this has been stressed very proudly by all the teachers and mentors in these first few days, how we line up before all the lessons, how we behave in a calm and polite way, how we keep our cell phones in our lockers and how we choose not to wear caps indoors.

"During the first few days in school I have seen this being delivered in reality and not just in theory. I am truly thankful to all students and all teachers who have worked whole-heartedly to deliver this commitment."

At the opening of the school in Kista, the Principal, Mr McGowan, said: "Our teachers are competent professional educational leaders who enable optimal learning conditions.

"Positive students mirror positive involved teachers, and positive students want to come to school, these conditions are why students attend IES, they need an ordered, structured, place to learn in, just like adults need order and structure to do their jobs.

"To that end I personally believe in being proactive by walking around all the time and talking to students and staff."

Ms Bersgtröm, founder and chairman of Internationella Engelska Skolan, added: "Here I know, and I can say with confidence, that the people who are taking care of that which is most precious in our lives, our students, they actually do it.

"They don't sweep things under the rug, they assist you, they promote you, they lift you up and on occasions they will say 'why don't you come to my office?', and then you know something serious needs to be discussed."

Following the opening of the three new schools, as well the growth of many existing IES schools the company now has almost 20,000 students studying at 29 schools in Sweden, mostly middle schools teaching students in years 4-9.

Welcome to IES Hässleholm Aug 17 2015

Dear Students and Guardians

I hope you have had a great break despite the weather. We have been working very hard at the school in order to get everything as ready as possible for your arrival August 17. Materials have been ordered  and soon the teachers start their training and induction. All teachers have been hired and the schedule is soon finished and will be handed out the first day of school. All classes will start lessons at 8:45 so that students travelling far have a chance to get to school on time. Please note that the school opens at 07:30 for students.

Since this is our first year of operation, some things will not be completed for the school start. As of now the installation of the projectors in the year 4 and 5 building has been delayed, and the furniture for the indoor student recreation area will not be installed until a few weeks into the term. We will simply have to use our great outdoor facilities.

You find the schedule for the first days below and we will have our first parent evening Thursday August 27.

Despite minor delays, we are all excited to get started and build IES Hässleholm and to create the best possible school for all our students!

Yours Sincerely

Chris Nilsson

Principal IES Hässleholm

August 17

08:45 Year 4,5, and 6 Students and Guardians meet in P.E. hall

09:15 Year 7 and 8 Students and Guardians meet in P.E. hall

Year 4,5 and 6 end the day at 14:00

Junior Club is open for those who have signed up.

Year 7 and 8 end the day at 14:30

Please note that guardians will not join the students in school, but will be dismissed after the information session in the morning.

August 18

All classes start at 08:45  

Student Choice day and class day

Year 4,5 and 6 end the day at 14:00

Junior Club is open for those who have signed up.

Year 7 and 8 end the day at 14:30

Normal schedule from August 19