Broschyr med presentation av kommunens ... - Älmhults kommun

The International School
Making it easier to live a global life
The International School of Älmhult is making it easier to move to other countries for children as well as parents. It is
one of 3 000 schools in the world, certified by the International Baccalaureate Organisation. That makes it possible
to move all over the globe and continue in the same school system whatever country you’re moving to or from.
The International School of Älmhult is one of five
schools in Sweden authorised to deliver both The
Primary and The Middle Years Programmes. At
the start the school had only 5 students. Today
there are 105 and the school is moving into larger
facilities. A new department will open in August in
the Pre-School for 1–3 years-olds.
– Families moving around the world can feel
secure that the children can move on to the same
school system with similar pedagogy in all the
3 000 IB schools. Broad-mindedness is our educational
platform, says Vivien Björnestrand, head of
the International School of Älmhult.
In all these schools everyone is used
to students and teachers coming and
going. Around 25 of the students
come from abroad every year and
nearly as many leave. The stay
in Sweden can vary from a few
months to a few years.
English is the common language in
the International School, but there
are many more nationalities in the
school. Among teachers and students 23
different mother tongues are spoken. All students
in the school can learn Swedish and in the Middle
Years Programme students can choose between
Spanish, French or German.
Staff in the administration and library also have
an international background.
– Even if we have grown fast we are still a small
school with small classes. All the staff know all
the children and this creates a secure environment
for the pupils. We believe in a low teacher-to-pupil
ratio as one of the most important factors to
guarantee quality in our education, says
Vivien Björnestrand.
In August 2011 the International
School of Älmhult is moving into
newly renovated premises at
Haganässkolan and will have
over 120 pupils.
– This is important to us as it
makes it possible to continue go
grow.
We have a new and larger playground,
where our pupils have been able to
put in their own ideas and wishes into the design,
says Vivien Björnestrand.
The International School in Älmhult is very
important to a global company like Ikea and the
possibility to recruit experts from all countries.
This is why Ikea sponsors the school.
Read more about the International Baccalaureate
organisation at www.ibo.org