The former principal describes the school as the worst he has experienced in his career. After several serious reports, the Swedish Schools Inspectorate has initiated an investigation.
At the same time, the school company is preparing the opening of a new school in Härryda – with “world-class education” according to the website.
– As a municipality, we can not say no, says Päivi Malmsten, from Härryda municipality.
Parents, students and former employees have directed harsh criticism at the newly started British International School in Uppsala. Despite the fact that the school charged fees of up to SEK 130,000 per pupil and academic year, according to several people Aftonbladet spoke to, there was a lack of resources for teachers, school books, student health, special support and schoolyards.
British International School has also received close to SEK 2.5 million in grants from Uppsala Municipality.
But at the same time as the Swedish Schools Inspectorate has been inspecting the school in Uppsala since February, the company Steam Eduaction has received permission to open another school, for the autumn term. It will be located in premises that were previously used by a municipal preschool in Landvetter, Härryda municipality, outside Gothenburg.
– Not all details about the rental are ready yet, but Steam Education is set on the school operations to be able to start already in the academic year 2022-2023. The conditions that remain to be met are an approved building permit for a change of business and a bank guarantee, says Elin Rosén, administrative manager at the Education Sector in Härryda municipality.
Described as a flagship – but the pictures are fake
On the new school’s website, students from the entire Gothenburg area are encouraged to apply as early as the autumn term.
The British International School of Gothenburg is described as the flagship of the company Steam Education, which will prepare students for “future successes at the world’s most prestigious university and college”.
The photos on the website represent smiling children and teachers in fresh classrooms.
They turn out to be free images from photo agencies.
The Swedish Schools Inspectorate’s targeted supervision of the British International School in Uppsala began after several complaints from parents and former principal David Cooksey, who resigned after four months.
However, there is nothing that Härryda municipality has become aware of.
It is also not known how many children are expected to go to the new school this autumn.
– They have received permission from the Swedish Schools Inspectorate, which grants if a business can start. If someone has received an approval, then we can simply go for it. We as a municipality can not say no, but we can trust the state authority, says Päivi Malmsten, head of the Education Sector in Härryda municipality.
The loophole in the law – can not control the owner
In 2019, stricter controls were introduced to stop rogue owners from running schools. The government wants to further tighten the rules to address misconduct in the school market. But international schools, such as the British International School, are not subject to the same laws as other independent schools.
– We can not go in and close a school immediately at this type of school activity. We need to make an investigation and establish shortcomings, and then we need to order the principal to come to terms with them. Only when the shortcomings are not rectified can we revoke this type of permit, says Carin Clevesjö, head of the Permits Unit at the Swedish Schools Inspectorate.
The loophole in the law means that the authority can also not make the same strict checks on owners of international schools.
Even if a principal proves unsuitable, it does not mean that you have the opportunity to withdraw the permit that the company has received to open new schools elsewhere in the country.
– We do not have the same legal space when it comes to ownership and management review of international schools. There are also no provisions on establishment control. It is only when the school opens, if it can be stated that the principal does not follow the law, that we can take action, says Carin Clevesjö.
Aimed at diplomat children
International schools follow a different curriculum than the Swedish one, for example a British or French school, and do not formally belong to the Swedish school system. They therefore have the right to charge the expensive fees and must target students who are temporarily in Sweden, for example children of diplomats or international researchers.
Aftonbladet’s review shows, however, that there are also other categories of students who attend British International School in Uppsala, for example children who have had a hard time at other schools due to bullying or who need special support.
In the spring of 2022, Steam Education has also introduced scholarships, to attract students who can not afford to pay the fee.
School company owner: “Each coin has two sides”
Aftonbladet has asked Steam Education to answer questions about the new school in Härryda. The owner Alaa Hanna has returned with the following answer by email:
“Of course, I do not comment on any cases that are with the authorities for processing. Regarding the company’s finances and financial priorities, there is nothing that I intend to comment on in Aftonbladet. You simply have to lean on your sources who of course have no insight into this. Regarding personnel matters, I just want to say that each coin has two sides. ”
Facts
International schools in Sweden
Sources: The Government, the Swedish Schools Inspectorate.
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