Education - general information

Within the municipality there are 14 preschools, 13 secondary schools, a special school, a school of music and an upper secondary school.

Adult education is available at the Learning Centre “Lärcentrum”, housed with the library. Statistics show that Avesta had a staff-pupil ratio of 9,2/ 100 in 2006 (national average 8,2/ 100).

There is also an independent preschool/secondary school, Grytnäs independent school, with approx. 60 pupils from pre-school to 6th grade, run by the Church of Sweden in Grytnäs parish.

Municipal schools are evaluated in annual quality report, aimed at contributing to the further development of school activity and providing information on school achievements and goals. The reports are published in Swedish on the municipality’s website. For oral information in English on the quality reports, please contact: Jan Samuelsson, Telephone: +46(0)226-645214 E-mail: : jan.samuelsson@avesta.se

Science and technology

All municipal secondary schools use NTA – science and technology for all. NTA supports pupils’ learning in biology, physics, chemistry and technology, and indirectly in other subjects. NTA has 5 basic pillars:
• Experimental methodology with complete material kits and guidelines
• Organised handling of materials
• Continuous competence development for teachers
• Continuous evaluation of pupils’ learning
• Local co-operation between schools, the municipality, the business community, higher education, etc.

The Avesta model

Pre- and secondary schools use the Avesta model, where adults (teachers, parents and other school professionals) meet in a discussion forum whenever a pupil is dysfunctional in the school environment. The model builds on the pupil remaining in his/her normal class, where new behavioural patterns are practised. A central team of professionals – pedagogue, speech therapist, psychologist and educationalist specialised in absentee pupils – work together with the school. One team works with the pre-schools, another with the secondary schools.

Dexter – our school on the Internet

This part of the school is open 24/7. On the Internet you can check timetables and class lists, write action plans, register leave of absence, have discussions between home and the school etc. Some of the information in Dexter is available to the public.

Children’s checklist

The aim of the checklist is that every decision of the Education Board should be preceded by an examination of whether children’s rights have been taken into account - as prescribed by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The four pillars of the Convention are good guidelines:
– The right to equal treatment.
– The best interests of the child.
– The right to life and development.
– The right to freedom of expression.