News | 25 June 2026
A Warm Summer Greeting and Highlights from IES Jönköping
As the academic year concludes, IES Jönköping looks back at a year filled with academic growth, grit, and strong school community.
Welcome to our Academic Review!
We would like to wish all our current families, newly admitted students, prospective students, and queueing families a wonderful summer! The 2025/2026 academic year has been an extraordinary journey. Through our IES model, which focuses on both high academic expectations and strong pastoral care, our students have achieved great things inside and outside the classroom.
Here is a short look back at some of our favourite moments from the past school year.
Tip! Feel free to follow us on Instagram @ies_jkpg to get a glimpse into our daily school life and stay updated on even more events throughout the school year.
House Clash
We kicked off the school year with our annual House Clash, a day dedicated to team spirit. At IES Jönköping, our house system unites students across different year groups. Junior students belong to Foxes, Lynxes, or Wolves, while Senior students belong to Phoenix, Griffin, or Pegasus. Students earn points for their house by demonstrating good behaviour, maintaining clean monthly records, and showing great grit during sports events. This year, the Lynxes stood victorious!
The official shields for our three Junior houses, Foxes, Lynxes, and Wolves, which encourage teamwork and strengthen our school culture!
The official shields for our three Senior houses, Phoenix, Griffin, and Pegasus, which unite older students and foster a strong sense of team spirit across year groups.
Celebrating Community and Success
The IES Central Office visited us to interview staff for the IES Quality Report, highlighting our exceptional work with student safety and our strong collaboration between home, school, the Pastoral Care Team (PCT), and the Learning Environment Team (LET).
Assistant Principals Mr Stevens and Ms Nilsson, who were interviewed for the IES Quality Report to discuss our dedicated teamwork to ensure a safe, calm, and stimulating environment for every student.
Year 9 and Year 6 Camping Trip
Year 6 students enjoyed their traditional outdoor camp, swimming, hiking, and building lifelong friendships. Later, our Year 9 students embarked on their annual trip to Stockholm. Combining outdoor adventure with academic exploration, the students enjoyed an exciting camping experience alongside visits to the Paradox Museum, the Vasa Museum, and the Museum of National History.
Year 6 students take a moment to admire the beautiful views and a nearby hourse paddock during their camping trip.
The Museum of National History in Stockholm.
Character Counts & The Gold Award
Through our Character Counts system, students earn points daily, weekly, and monthly for focus, cooperation, and exemplary conduct. Last week, our top Gold Award Winners were celebrated with an extraordinary flight over Jönköping and Lake Vättern as a reward for being true role models.
Community Engagement
Thanks to a local community project HV71 för Alla, students with top house points won tickets to an exciting HV71 hockey game. We also hosted a successful Open House, welcoming queueing families with a taco buffet and great conversations.
Gustav was one of the students who earned the most House Points and received tickets to an HV71 hockey match, thanks to the community project 'HV71 för alla'.
Alice and Bella, together with other members of the Student Council, were among the students who conducted school tours for our visitors.
Creativity and Student Well-being
We celebrated autumn break with our yearly, and creative Fancy Dress Day. Soon after, we officially opened our new Student Lounge for Senior students, featuring billiards, air hockey, chess, and table tennis. In the spring, our Student Council successfully launched our brand-new Student Café, cutting the ribbon to serve hot chocolate and toast!
Bella and Alice cut the ribbon to officially open our new Student Café, creating a warm space for students to socialize and build school culture outside the classroom.
A glimpse of the inviting interior in our new Student Café, designed to provide a calm and comfortable environment where students can relax and enjoy time with friends.
Character Counts
Throughout the academic year, our younger Primary students in years F–3 work systematically with all six pillars of the Character Counts initiative to support a safe and stimulating school environment. At the start of the school year, a special focus was placed on the pillar of Responsibility, where students reflected on how to take care of school materials, be on time, and contribute to a positive community. To celebrate their hard work, selected students were rewarded with a special fika alongside our principal, Mr. Varley. This vital pastoral care work is a core part of the IES model, which helps develop children into responsible members of society.
Our Primary students work systematically with all six pillars of the Character Counts programme throughout the year to help build a safe and calm school environment.
Academic and Cultural Highlights
For Nobel Day, students dressed up to walk the red carpet and enjoyed a special lunch prepared by our Kitchen Team. Year 4 students concluded a major autumn fairy-tale writing project, with diplomas awarded to Oliver, Agnes, Raihan, and Jacklin. In December, Year 3 students spread warmth across the school with a beautiful Lucia procession, and our winter term concluded with student musical performances during our End of Term Ceremonies.
Year 3 students spread warmth across the school with a beautiful Lucia procession.
Sports Triumphs
Our basketball team showed true fighting spirit, securing an impressive third place nationally in the Basketball-SM tournament. In May, 24 students travelled to Stockholm to represent IES Jönköping in the annual IES football tournament, selected for their behavior, team spirit, and skills. Additionally, Year 3 students arranged their own football tournament during national 'Fotbollströjefredag', raising funds for the Swedish Child Cancer Foundation (Barncancerfonden).
Our Basketball team secured a proud third place in the Skol-SM championship, showing great grit and teamwork throughout the tournament!
Edith, Jude, Agnes, Erik, and Melissa played a key role in raising awareness for our fundraiser during Football Shirt Friday, supporting the Swedish Barncancerfonden.
Academic Excellence in Mathematics
Bella, Rasmus, and Elliot, competing under the team name "BRE" – secured an impressive top 10 finish in the national mathematics competition Höjdpunkten. Competing against 183 teams from across Sweden, they demonstrated the academic excellence and grit that define the IES spirit. Their success caught the attention of SVT Nyheter, who visited our school to film a feature report on the team's achievement. Guided by their mentor Mr Cockburn, the team tackled complex logical puzzles and advanced equations with precision. This outstanding achievement reflects the high academic expectations we set at IES Jönköping and shows what can be achieved through true dedication.
From left: Bella Karlsson, Elliott Schoultz, and Rasmus Chapman. These Year 9 students secured a top 10 position in the national "Höjdpunkten" maths competition.
Grit and Growth Mindset
Senior students challenged themselves in the Winter Bay Ultra Run in Stockholm, covering over 200 kilometres combined alongside Principal Mr Varley to support diabetes awareness and children's rights. Krithigar and Eliott both completed more than a full marathon individually, and Krithigar managed place 2 in his 7th lap.
Principal Mr Varley and our senior students line up at the starting gate, showing great grit and determination before tackling over 200 kilometres combined in the Winter Bay Ultra Run in Stockholm!
Principal Mr Varley shares final tactical advice and words of encouragement before the start.
Cross-Curricular Innovation
Our Senior students participated in a 13-week interdisciplinary project combining Swedish and Art. Analyzing the novel The Hate U Give, the project bridged the gap between reading and creating. Under the guidance of Swedish teacher Mr Hulteke, students utilized educational podcasts, while Ms Bond led the artistic transformation in Art class. Students worked with "Blackout Poetry" by carefully taking apart physical books to give the pages new life through unique poems and interpretations. In the art room, this blackout poetry took physical form through both abstract art and illustrations, showing how different forms of expression can reinforce each other and provide a deeper understanding of heavy themes. The finished artwork was proudly exhibited at Jönköpings Stadsbibliotek (Magenta department), and we extend a big thank you to the library for a beautiful opening ceremony!
Art teacher Ms Bond and Swedish teacher Mr Hulteke at the opening ceremony of their interdisciplinary exhibition at Jönköpings Stadsbibliotek.
Overcoming Obstacles
Ten students represented our school at the Obstacle Course Run (OCR) tournament in Linköping. After training sessions with world championship medallist, Maja Wellner at Kroppslabbet in Lidköping, our students demonstrated immense grit and took home the first-place trophy in the team competition - OCR Run for Fun!
IES Jönköping OCR Team!
Obstacle 36 - Water Ladder!
Success in Chess
Our Senior Chess Team finished in the top 32 in all of Sweden. Meanwhile, our Year 4 students welcomed a chess specialist for an exciting introduction to the national Schackfyran competition. Individual talents also shone brightly as Leonardo from Year 5 was crowned this year’s Junior Chess Champion.
Senior Chess Team: David, Elliott, Jakub, Rasmus and Ted.
Leonardo from Year 5 celebrates his victory as the Junior Chess Champion 2026!
Primary Spring Fest
Our Primary students wrapped up the school year with a vibrant Spring Fest. Students' work from throughout the year was beautifully displayed both out in the schoolyard and along our glass corridor. The day offered clear blue skies and sunshine, making it a wonderful opportunity for students, parents, and staff to come together and celebrate.
A beautiful display of handmade paper flowers and colourful bracelets created by our Primary students at Fritids during the school year.
Creative artwork proudly displayed by our Year 2 students.
Graduation Ceremony & Prom
The school year concluded beautifully with our annual Prom for Year 9 students and a formal Graduation Ceremony celebrating the Class of 2026 at Elmia. Behind the celebration lies years of hard work, continuous grit, and moments where these students truly dared to challenge themselves. But this journey has been about so much more than just academic excellence. These students have grown as individuals - learning what it means to be responsible citizens, supportive friends, and genuinely good human beings. You can read more and see highlights from our Graduation Ceremony here.
Thank you to all guardians for trusting us with your children’s education. We look forward to welcoming new and returning families this autumn.
