The Swedish School

The Swedish School in London stands in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It began in 1907 to help Swedish families keep their language and traditions alive while living in the city. About half the pupils live permanently in the UK, while the rest are expatriates. The school runs a nursery, primary and secondary section near St Paul’s School in Barnes for ages two to sixteen. A sixth-form centre for 16- to 19-year-olds sits in Kew, shared with The National Archives. The school is regulated by Ofsted in Britain and by Sweden’s education agency, Skolverket. It has been judged Outstanding for fourteen straight years, including as a boarding school. Swedish exchange students join the sixth form and live with local host families arranged by the school. The sixth form offers science, social science with civics and humanities, and business administration programmes. Its buildings include a former PE hall and canteen now called Svenska Salen, once part of Ulrika Eleonora Church in Marylebone. Visitors see the Victorian Gothic Revival church designed by Herbert Wigglesworth and Axel H. Haig. The lower school occupies a building by Swedish architect Klas Nilsson in Barnes. The sixth-form site in Kew shares facilities with The National Archives. The school’s history is visible in its adapted spaces and continuing programmes for language and culture.