Integrated education achieves better results in this Swedish locality by merging four different schools from diverse parts of town and concentrating all the resources in one site.
MERGING FOUR SCHOOLS INTO ONE
Several years ago, the Municipality of Nyköping decided to merge its four high schools into one. The reasoning was that if children from different parts of town are allocated to different schools, this reinforces ethnic and social segregation.
RESOURCES are OPTIMISED
The Nyköping model strengthens students’ social skills, promotes integration and social development, and creates encounters between kids from different backgrounds. Allocation of resources and competence is optimised, and education takes place in suitable buildings.
RESULTS IMPROVE SIGNIFICANTLY
Reversing the trend of poor school results united the politicians of Nyköping across political divides. In 2014, the new school was ready. Gathering all pupils in one school made it easier to focus on improving results. There are currently 1,400 pupils enrolled, and soon the first age group will graduate. Results appear to have improved significantly. In the past, pupils needed to pass three subjects in order to be eligible for upper secondary school, and only 70% did. Now, a passing grade in eight to twelve subjects is required, and it is expected that 90% will achieve this.
