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Education at Turku International School
Turku International School is an educational institution maintained by the City of Turku, with English as its teaching language. Turku International School offers primary (grades 1-6), secondary (grades 7-9) and upper secondary education. The first two of these conform to the Finnish National Core Curriculum. The upper secondary education is based on the IB Diploma Programme.
Get Kids Moving (Lapset liikkeelle)
- 6–12-year-olds get to test various sports free of charge
- Participating does not require registering
Sports Wonderland for Kids (Lasten liikunnan ihmemaa)
- Offers possibilities for 1–12-year-olds to play and frolic
- Free of charge
- Lasten liikunnan ihmemaa
Mihi.fi
- Meant for 13–19-year-olds
- Offers many kinds of possibilities for physical exercise around the c
Education Division / basic education swimming teachers give swimming lessons to the students of 1st, 3rd and 5th years in accordance with the plan approved by the Sports Committee. The swimming lessons of the 2nd, 4th and 6th year students have either been included in the schools’ own physical education curriculums or the responsibility is left for the parents.
The swimming lessons of years 7–10 have been entered in the schools’ own physical education curriculums, in which case the schools’ own physical education teachers are responsible for the lessons.
Break activity volunteers in primary schools
- Break activity volunteers are trained during autumns in co-operation with the Department of Teacher Education in Turku
- The target group is the students of the 5th and 6th years
- The aim is to promote exercise during breaks with a ‘peer instructor’ principle
Break baskets
- Contain equipment suitable for break activities
- In primary schools every class has their own break basket
- In secondary schools the equipment is school-specific
- The baskets should be restocked on a regula
The name SPIN was invented by students – it comes from the words ”sportin innoittamat” which means ‘inspired by sport’.
SPIN activities train secondary school students to become the physical education representatives of their own schools. SPIN activity was initiated by the Finnish School Sport Federation (KKL) in 2005.
Physical exercise guidance is organized by the physical education instructors of the Education Division in co-operation with the various administrative sections and education institutions of the city as well as with the operators of the third sector.
Physical exercise guidance supports the physical education and health education given during lessons. Guidance is planned in co-operation with the Student Sport Committees consisting of the schools' physical education representatives and physical education teachers.
Physical exercise at school consists of physical education lessons that are based on the physical education curriculum, lessons including physical activity as well as the physical activity during breaks, on the way to and from school, during club activities and activities organized by the physical exercise guidance at school.
- There are physical education lessons weekly throughout the school year in basic education
- In upper secondary education there are two compulsory physical education classes during the entire upper secondary school
Distance teaching is utilized in small group religion teaching and in the teaching of some languages in the comprehensive schools of Turku. This aims to decrease student transport, increase teaching in year groups instead of mixed groups, and to broaden the selection of optional languages.
Learning can be enhanced by using information and communication technologies (ICT) in various ways. At the same time the student will learn important working and information society skills for postgraduate studies and working life. In the new curriculums the role of ICT is emphasized and suitable technology is present in all learning in a way that is appropriate considering the age group and learning contents starting from early childhood education.
What is global education?
- International education = Global education = an activity guiding people’s joint responsibility worldwide
- The task is to open people's eyes and minds to the realities of the world, and awaken them to bring about a world of greater justice, equity and human rights for all
Fields of global education:
- Intercultural education
- Environmental education
- Human rights education
- Development education
- Peace and security education
Global education is not an independent subj
The new curriculum encourages the improvement of school culture
A change in school culture requires that the voice of children and young persons can be heard in the school community. Schools implement the operating culture of School on the Move programme according to the national objectives.
More comfortable school days
Doing things together and taking students into the development work of schools contributes to the comfort at school. Registered schools get materials and practical tips about how to make school days more comfortable and functional.
Entrepreneurship education is attitude above all!
Students are tutored to work systematically and with perseverance and to take responsibility for their own doings. They are encouraged to recognize their strengths and to become interested in various things. Students are also encouraged to be persistent in finishing their tasks and to appreciate the work results.
One section of the basic education national core curriculum approved by the Finnish National Board of Education is the responsibility over the environment, well-being and sustainable future. The objectives of sustainable development are included in the teaching of all basic education subjects.
The goal is to increase the student’s abilities and the motivation to work for the well-being of the environment and humans.
The aim of basic education is to raise citizens who are conscious of the environment and committed to a more sustainable way of life.
All students in the comprehensive schools of Turku can participate in the Environment Trail. Primary school students will be invited to the Environment Trail once per school year.
Culture Path is based on the curriculum.
Culture Path is a plan according to which every student in the comprehensive schools of Turku visits various cultural locations three times per school year. For example libraries, concerts, theatres, Turku Castle and museums can be visited. In the second and eighth years students will also go to movies. Additional information about locations and topical events is available on the Culture Path website (in Finnish).
Basic education implements the child’s rights for learning and personal well-being. The modules that support teaching strengthen the children’s involvement, activity, and knowledge of culture and nature, and encourage the children to exercise, examine, express themselves, and experience art and entrepreneurship amongst other things.
Modules
Click the orange link bars below.
Basic education in Turku offers extensive bilingual education, language immersion in Swedish, and content and language integrated learning. In bilingual education, language is used as a teaching instrument for different subjects, which enables the pupil to reach a strong competence of the target language and to practice their cultural and international skills. Bilingual education complies with specific principles established in the curriculum.
In addition to the teaching of religions, schoolwork may include religious events such as services, religious morning assemblies or religious concerts. These events are considered as religious practice.
The student studies either a religion or ethics. Turku organizes teaching of Evangelical-Lutheran, Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Islamic religions, as well as ethics teaching.
When the student participates in religious education the school year report will not mention which religion’s curriculum the student has followed. If the student has been exempted from religious education at school because they receive their religious education in their own religious community, religion will not be marked on the school year report as a subject.
Teaching in schools is based on the curriculum, which in turn is based on laws and regulations. The curriculum illustrates practical school work and all schools must follow it, which means it is a standard. The National Board of Education has approved the national core curriculum of basic education, and the municipality-specific section of Turku City basic education curriculum for years 1–9 is based on it. Additionally, school-specific specifications for organizing teaching have been described on the schools’ curriculums or school year plans.