The Danish Educational System

Pre-Primary EducationPrimary and Lower Secondary Education – The FolkeskoleUpper Secondary Education

Pre-Primary EducationKindergartens4-5-year-olds

introduction to school environmentseparate institutions

Pre-School ClassesSchool environmentIntroduction to basic skills, such as reading and writing

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

The FolkeskoleFree educationEducation compulsory – not school

Continuation school

Private schools

Folkeskolen

Possible school choices during the first 9 years

The Folkeskole Act

Overall aims:Overall aims:Skills and knowledge necessary for further educationDesire to learn moreKnowledge of Danish culture and historyUnderstanding of other cultures and countriesWell-rounded development of the individual studentAbility to participate in a free and democratic society

The Folkeskole Act

Common and End Objectives:Common and End Objectives:Issued by the Ministry of EducationTo ensure necessary students’ skills and knowledgeTo establish end objectives for each subject

National Curricula:National Curricula:To provide guidelines for the educational developmentTo provide guidelines for reaching the end objectives

Compulsory subjects

The Humanities:The Humanities:Danish in all form levelsEnglish and history in form levels 3-9Social studies in form levels 8-9

Practical/Creative subjects:Practical/Creative subjects:P.E. in all form levelsMusic in form levels 1-6Visual arts in form levels 1-5

Compulsory subjectsScience subjects:Science subjects:Maths in all form levelsNatural sciences in form levels 1-6Geography and biology in form levels 7-9Physics/chemistry in form levels 7-9

Other compulsory educational Other compulsory educational programmes:programmes:Heatlth, sexual, family studies, road safetyEducational, labour market orientation

Other specificsUndivided schoolClasses formed according to ageAn average of app. 20 students per classMax 28 students per classClass teacher for each class:Usually Danish teacherOverall responsibility for the class

Evaluation and TestsRegular evaluations carried out:Regular evaluations carried out:To ensure students’ levels in accordance with To ensure students’ levels in accordance with common objectivescommon objectivesTo provide guidance for the learning of the To provide guidance for the learning of the individualindividualOfficial student plans drawn upOfficial student plans drawn up

Marks on a 7-point scale in form Marks on a 7-point scale in form levels 8-9levels 8-9School-leaving exams for form School-leaving exams for form levels 9-10levels 9-10

Upper Secondary Education

Four Upper Secondary Education Four Upper Secondary Education Programmes:Programmes:STX: 3 years. Broad range of subjects in the humanities, natural science and social scienceHF: 2 years. Focus as aboveHHX: 3 years. Focus on business and socio-economic disciplinesHTX: 3 years. Focus on technology and science