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News | 18 August 2023

Celebrating 30 years of grit and high academic expectations and aspirations

This autumn marks the start of a very special school year, since it’s now 30 years since Engelska Skolan opened its doors for the first time.

Since then, what was a single school in Stockholm has grown to a nationwide learning organisation with 46 schools from Trelleborg in the south to Skellefteå in the north, currently educating 32 000 students. The idea has always been to provide an alternative to families searching for an international environment with a focus on learning and command of the English language.

We are proud of what we have achieved but also eager to continue the journey, together with old and new staff members, working together to provide the best possible education to new generations of students. This autumn we welcome more than 500 new employees, whereof half are from other countries. 

As a celebration of IES’ proud history, a new edition of Barbara and Hans Bergström’s book Tough Love, telling the fascinating story of IES from the very beginning, has been launched. If you haven’t read it already I really recommend it.

Even though Sweden is a different country with different challenges than 30 years ago, we are convinced that there will be a demand for schools with high academic expectations and aspirations, where no student is left behind and where students can enjoy a calm and safe learning environment with teachers and classmates from all over the world, in a truly international atmosphere.

I am looking forward to celebrating IES 30 years together with you during this coming school year. 

Anna Sörelius Nordenborg, CEO Internationella Engelska Skolan