What is first grade like in Finland?

School days in the first grade in Finland are short. Depending on where you live, first graders have about 19-22 hours of school a week. This means that most families need after-school care for their first graders. Municipalities usually arrange after-school care for first graders.

What age is Grade 1 in Finland?

Basic information about primary and lower secondary education. Primary and lower secondary education is provided within a single structure. Primary and lower secondary education consist of grades 1–9. School education begins in the year a child turns 7 and lasts 9 years, until pupils are 15–16 years old.

What is the first grade curriculum in Finland?

Subjects that all pupils in the first grade study are mother tongue and literature, A1 language (the first foreign or second national language), mathematics, environmental studies, religion or ethics and arts and practical subjects that are music, visual arts, crafts and physical education.

How are kids graded in Finland?

Grading scales in different educational institutions. In Finland, the grading scale used is 4-10 in comprehensive and upper secondary schools and 0-5 in vocational and higher education institutions.

Does Finland have GCSEs?

Because in Finland, there is no equivalent to GCSEs. Nor are there tests at school entry, or SATS.

Ten (10) REASONS why FINLAND'S EDUCATION SYSTEM is considered the BEST in the WORLD

How long is Finland school day?

Typically, the Finnish school day starts anywhere from 9 to 9:45 a.m., and students typically spend only about five hours a day in the classroom. What's more, Finnish students typically have little to no homework.

Do schools in Finland give homework?

Finnish schools have a relatively low amount of homework.

Homework is seen more as a recap of what has been learned in the class but it is not supposed to take a hours of time at home. Usually students finish the rest of the assignments that was covered during the lesson and read through the next chapter.

Why is Finland school system so good?

Teachers in Finland spend fewer hours at school each day and spend less time in classrooms than American teachers. Teachers use the extra time to build curriculums and assess their students. Children spend far more time playing outside, even in the depths of winter. Homework is minimal.

Is Finland education good?

The Finnish education system is one of the best in the world. International students come in big groups yearly to experience a new way to learn higher education.

How many hours a week do 1st graders go to school in Finland?

First and second graders attend school for a maximum of five hours a day and average 19 lessons a week. Older students attend school for up to seven hours a day. Third and fourth graders have 23 lessons a week, and fifth and sixth graders have 24 lessons.

What is the school routine in Finland?

Usually, school starts at 8:15 a.m. and ends at 2:45 p.m., with an hour for lunch and 15 minutes between each class, so students have plenty of time to relax between classes!

What age do kids finish school in Finland?

The educational system in Finland consists of daycare programmes (for babies and toddlers), a one-year "preschool" (age six), and an 11-year compulsory basic comprehensive school (age seven to age eighteen).

Do kids have exams in Finland?

One important goal is that the students learn how to think for themselves and assume responsibility over their own learning. The teacher evaluates the students' progress in school. In comprehensive education, all grades are given by the teacher. There are no national examinations as such.

Is education in Finland free?

In Finland, education is free at all levels for pupils and students. There are no tuition fees from pre-primary until higher education.

How do grades work in Finland?

In Finland, grades are typically calculated using a numeric scale of 4 to 10, where 4 is the lowest passing grade and 10 is the highest. However, some schools may use a different scale, such as a percentage-based system.

Is school in Finland stressful?

The Finnish system of education is stress-free as there is no external inspection. Instead, the system places great trust in teachers and principals, and provides them with autonomy, thus reducing stress.

Is it hard to be a teacher in Finland?

Teacher Recruitment

Finnish teacher education programs, like most graduate programs in Finland, are highly selective. Historically, only one out of every ten applicants to primary education programs is admitted; while that number has increased slightly, it is still highly competitive.

Why does Finland not have homework?

The truth is that there is nearly no homework in the country with one of the top education systems in the world. Finnish people believe that besides homework, there are many more things that can improve child's performance in school, such as having dinner with their families, exercising or getting a good night's sleep.

Is school lunch free in Finland?

In Finland, each child and young person attending pre-primary, primary, lower secondary and upper secondary education can enjoy a free school meal. Nearly 850,000 pupils and students are entitled to free school lunch.

Is education easy in Finland?

Yes. Finland's forward-thinking teaching and flexible education pathways make it one of the best education systems. It ranks 8th among the top 10 well-educated countries in 2023 by the World Population Review.

Do they speak English in Finland schools?

The language of instruction in English-language basic education is English. The only exception is the subject of Finnish language and literature, which will be taught in Finnish. Applicants for grades 1 to 7 must have native or near-native proficiency in English, but prior skills in Finnish are not required.

How long is summer break in Finland?

The summer break is ten weeks. In addition schools have autumn, Christmas and winter breaks. Teaching time in basic education is among the lowest in the world. Finnish pupils stay in school 6 300 hours during their 9-year basic education.

Do students in Finland wear uniforms?

Students don't wear uniforms in Finland. You can dress however you like for school!

What time is school lunch in Finland?

School meals should be served from 11 am to 12 noon every school day. A good school canteen encourages pupils to enjoy an unhurried meal and offers them healthy choices.