School Blog

We would like to clarify that the event on Tuesday 26 November at Messingen, Love Almqvists torg 1, will start at 17:30 for years F-3, not 17:00. 

There will be two presentations during the evening, with information tailored for different age groups, where you will learn about our new school in Upplands Väsby:

• Years F-3: 17:30-18:30
• Years 4-9: 19:00-20:00

The first presentation will go into more depth about F-3 education, however much of the content of the two presentations is the same, so you will not need to attend both of them, even if you have children in both age groups.

In August 2020 Internationella Engelska Skolan will open a new school in Upplands Väsby for around 600 students from grade F-9.

The audience will hear from Sara Viljosson, who has been principal of IES Järfälla now over four academic years, during which time almost all students qualified to attend gymnasiet. In 2019 the figure was 99 per cent compared to an average in Järfälla of 85 per cent (source: Skolverket statistik).

Those attending will also have the chance to meet representatives of IES, and to ask questions.

Today there are 26,800 students in our 37 schools. Every school follows our conviction that each individual student can achieve their full potential through:

• A safe and orderly environment, where teachers can teach and students learn.
• Command of the English language – the key to the world. Up to half of our teaching is in English, performed by certified native English-speaking teachers.
• High academic expectations.

The school is open to everyone. Places will be available on a first-come, first-served basis according to how long students have been in the queue, which can be found here: https://sms.schoolsoft.se/engelska/jsp/public/right_public_studentqueue.jsp?school=iesuppl

Join the queue for IES Upplands Väsby here. 

From August families in Upplands Väsby and the local area will be able to send their children to learn at a new bilingual school.

Internationella Engelska Skolan will open a new school in Upplands Väsby in August 2020 in a quiet neighbourhood with several green areas.

The school will accommodate approximately 600 students when full, with two classes in each grade from F–9. However, initially the school will be smaller, and the number of classes in each year-group during the school’s first year will be decided based on where the interest in the queue is strongest.  There will not be a grade 9 during the first year as few families tend to wish to move a child in the final year of compulsory education as this can be a large adjustment.

Jörgen Stenquist, vice CEO of Internationella Engelska Skolan, said: “We’re pleased to be able to announce this new school that will complement the municipality’s own schools and provide needed extra school places. We look forward to welcoming all students to modern premises where, in a safe and calm learning environment, they can be motivated to do their best.”

Work has started to transform this building into a first class, modern school, with everything required to offer students the ideal learning environment.

We are also working to recruit a principal who will then have a key role in hand-picking outstanding teachers from Sweden and abroad, as they build their team.

Interested families are already able to place themselves in the queue for the school by visiting https://sms.schoolsoft.se/engelska/jsp/public/right_public_studentqueue.jsp?school=iesuppl and filling out the form.  Students for each year-group will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Families will be given the chance to learn more about the school and ask questions at an information evening on November 26 at Messingen.

Soon we will start recruiting the very best teachers in all subject areas. We expect you to be a true professional, with the credentials of certification – from Sweden or abroad – to prove it. We also need professionals in non-teaching areas to work with us.

If you are passionate about education, believe in our ethos of a safe and orderly environment and high academic expectations, then you are the sort of teacher we are looking for.

If you are enticed by the thought of being part of a dynamic international school environment – then this is an exciting career opportunity for you. Read more here.

Send your CV to recruitment@engelska.se, citing reference UpplandsVäsby20

"Welcome to your school." - Frederik Granström, principal of IES Skellefteå, and Cecilia Marlow, interim CEO of IES, planting a ceremonial apple tree.

IES opened its 37th school, in Skellefteå, during a grand opening ceremony attended by students, parents and staff.

The school in Skellefteå is opening with around 240 students in grades F-9, and will grow over time. It has been opened following a close dialogue with the local municipality, to compliment the schools they run, help attract families with an international background to the town, and above all to provide more school places which offer students a high-quality of education.

Before planting an apple tree in IES tradition the school’s principal, Mr Granström, told students: "Welcome to your school, I promise you that this will be a school where you can feel safe every day.  This will be a school which helps you to develop academically and also socially, with a view to the future. We live in a global society and the borders outside of Sweden will be open to you.  This is a school where you can be exactly who you are and be respected for that.”

Turning to the parents he added: “It is with a great sense of responsibility that I promise that I will do my very best to take care of your children and their education when they are with me, thank you for choosing IES Skellefteå and thanks for being here today.”

IES has been teaching children since 1993 and today has 26 000 students in Sweden. The organisation follows the clear convictions set out by the organisation’s founder, Barbara Bergström, about what constitutes a really good school, where children can develop to their fullest potential.

The school will provide a bilingual education to children from Skellefteå and the local area, following the IES promise to help students learn to command both the English and Swedish languages.

As with other IES schools it will also provide a safe and calm environment, so that students can enjoy their time at school and concentrate on what they are being taught.

Cecilia Marlow, interim CEO of Internationella Engelska Skolan, told the audience: "That means that we can use every minute of the lesson, it means that it is a safe environment to learn in and to teach in. It also means that your children will gain the most knowledge during their years in this school.

“Thank you for entrusting us with the most valuable thing you have, your children, it is a very big responsibility, but I can personally vouch for that your children are in very good hands with Mr Granström and his team."

Student volunteers proudly held up the ribbon for Mr Granström, to cut, before he welcomed everyone into the building.

Ten-year-old Maya Gillerstedt (pictured above, furthest left) was one of the children who held up the ribbon. Although she has a Swedish-background, she has lived in Canada for the past eight years, and her lessons so far have been in English.  She is now looking forward to a fully bilingual education.

She said: “I like the school, the teachers are nice and I think it is a very good building.  I think I have a head start in maths and English, I might be a bit lower in Swedish because it is not what I am used to in school, but I know the teachers will help and I am a pretty quick learner.

“I don’t know the national anthem, so I need to learn that."

The ceremony concluded as parents watched their children line up by class, to be led into their new school by their teachers. Everyone who attended the opening ceremony also had the opportunity to tour the building, which has been transformed into a bright and modern educational environment.

With the school officially open students will start learning, get to know one another, and embark on a journey which will see them put on blue caps and gowns as they graduate at the end of year nine.

Norran subscribers can also read how the paper covered the school's opening here: https://www.norran.se/nyheter/skola/nu-har-internationella-engelska-skolan-invigts-i-skelleftea/

As the class of 2019 graduated, more than 3,600 IES students throughout Sweden have been awarded their school diplomas and gleefully thrown their hats into the air.

With laughter, tears and hugs, students bid a fond farewell to each other and their favourite teachers at ceremonies to celebrate their hard work.

The graduation ceremony, with its iconic blue caps and gowns, is an important part of the tradition of Internationella Engelska Skolan - a right of passage for students to mark their achievements over several years of education.

It is an American-style graduation, with speeches and performances of live music from the student body.  It also includes a strong nod to Swedish culture as schools sing Du Gamla, Du Fria and Den Blomstertid Nu Kommer.

Phil Boyd, principal of IES Västerås spoke to students, their families and friends at a packed Aros Congress Center (right).  He said: "Every student in this room has been taught good values and habits, being on time, meeting deadlines, being courteous and of course going the extra mile with hard work, saying please and saying thank-you.

"These are the routines and habits you must keep with you forever.  Throughout your life you will meet many people. Many will also share your habits and many will not. You will meet people with values that you respect and you will adopt theirs as your own as well."

Meanwhile Evy Holmerson, principal of IES Tyresö addressed the audience, including hundreds of students, at Nacka Aula.

She said: “It’s absolutely amazing to finally stand before you, looking at you, young adults, ready to fly off, leaving IES Tyresö behind you and moving on to new challenges and opportunities.

"Some of you I have followed from grade five, and you have grown. Your self-esteem and your knowledge in different areas have become greater.  I have no doubt that you will manage to achieve whatever you want, and what you put your heart into."

Principal Evy Holmerson, honours the IES Tyresö students with the best academic results.

She also had advice for those about to start grade nine in August.  She added: "As I turn to you, students in grade eight, next year it will be you sitting here with those blue caps and gowns, ready to fly off into the world.  Make the best of your upcoming year, study hard, but also remember to have fun.”

The Class of 2019 - IES Västerås.

Graduating students emerge to meet their families - IES Tyresö.

Teachers' Performance - IES Västerås