Internationella Engelska Skolan

Internationella Engelska Skolan (IES), or the International English School, is a Swedish corporation made up of Independent schools (or “free schools”). IES was founded in 1993[1] by Barbara Bergström, an American by origin and a science teacher by profession. The majority owner of the company, which is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, is the American equity fund TA Associates, while Barbara Bergström also remains one of the main owners.

Internationella Engelska Gymnasiet Södermalm - The gymnasiet run by Internationella Engelska Skolan i Sverige AB, at Allhelgonagatan on Södermalm

IES schools are based on the idea of bilingual education, with up to half of the teaching in English, performed by native English speaking teachers recruited from the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and other English-speaking countries. Also, many students are immigrants or children of immigrants. Other vital elements advertised are “tough love”, creating “a safe, calm environment in which teachers can teach and students learn”; and “high academic expectations”. Restaurant-type school lunches are also part of the concept which is advertised. According to the company's own statistics and Sweden's national agency for education, Skolverket, IES schools show results on the Swedish national tests which are far above average.[2] The tests are marked by teachers hired by the IES.

In 2018-19, IES operates 37 schools in Sweden with 26,800 students, mainly middle schools (grades 4-9), in Bromma, Borås, Enskede, Eskilstuna, Falun, Gävle, Gothenburg (Krokslätt and Johanneberg) , Halmstad, Helsingborg, Hässelby, Hässleholm, Huddinge, Järfälla, Jönköping, Karlstad, Kista, Landskrona, Liljeholmen, Linköping, Lund, Länna, Nacka strand, Skellefteå, Skärholmen, Sundbyberg, Sundsvall, Södertälje, Tyresö, Täby, Uppsala, Umeå, Årsta, Älvsjö and Örebro. The organisation also owns several schools in Spain and runs a school in the United Kingdom.

The schools are free of charge for the students. Education is paid for by the national voucher system. Public money goes initially to the school of choice. Students are admitted on a "first come, first served" basis.

The company has around 2,900 employees. Its headquarters is located in Täby, just north of Stockholm.

See also

References
  1. Internationella Engelska Skolan website, accessed December 2019.
  2. [National test data from the National Schools Inspectorate as presented on http://www.engelska.se/ Internationella Engelska Skolan website], accessed December 2019.

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