Docendo Discimus — by teaching, we learn

In 1995, Rita Ahonen and I opened the School with years one to six and after-school activities. Believing that we had a great deal more to offer the Swedish school system, we set up the Docendo Discimus foundation in 1997 with the aim of establishing the best school in Sweden.

We were qualified teachers from Estonia, and we were convinced that we could combine the best from the Estonian and Swedish school systems, and give the concept an international feel – we learnt from other school systems to then craft something unique.

Orderliness, homework and a supportive study environment, wellbeing and respect: a school for ambitious families who value an excellent education. Our marking system and rules on behaviour resulted in criticism from the Swedish National Agency for Education, but our approaches are now accepted.

Our decision to focus on languages and maths was the result of a number of factors. We felt that maths teaching in Sweden was not up to international standards and therefore needed strengthening. Once learnt, language skills are the last of all skills one forgets: a language one has learnt always stays with you, and can always be improved later in life.

In 1997, we spoke five languages ourselves, and felt that learning languages was enriching and it was therefore important to learn more languages.

The Swedish curriculum is fine, but it felt as though the International Baccalaureate (IB) was a superior alternative as a planning tool, holistic thinking and an approach used in more than 100 other countries.

In August 1998, we started with 56 pupils and finished the academic year with 65. In August 1999, the School had grown to more than 120 pupils, and after a few more years the School was full in every year from 0 to 9.

In 2006, the School was separated into two. Our school buildings were sold, but we found two new premises. Years 0 to 5 moved to a beautiful old school building on Luntmakargatan, and years 6 to 9 moved to Gotlandsgatan, which was also soon expanded to years 0 to 5.

Years 6 to 9 started on Luntmakargatan in 2014.

Today, our schools maintain high teaching standards, are orderly and promote school development on an international level.

Anette Parts
Head of the Board
Vasa International School of Stockholm