Norden International School vs The English School - Grades 7-9 and High School
Norden International School and The English School - Grades 7-9 and High School are both in Helsinki, about 9 km apart. Both schools offer Bespoke and Finnish programmes, and The English School - Grades 7-9 and High School also offers Cambridge IGCSE. Published annual fees are €9,850 at Norden International School and €673 - 11,314 at The English School - Grades 7-9 and High School, which puts Norden International School roughly 64% higher. Norden International School takes pupils from 5 to 16, and The English School - Grades 7-9 and High School from 13 to 18.
Helsinki, Finland (Malmi) and Brussels, Belgium (Rue de la Fusee 66, 1130 Bruxelles). Helsinki is easily accessible by public transport.
Location
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Stages
Stages
Helsinki: pre-school to Grade 9; Brussels: primary education.
Stages
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School type
School type
Private international school
School type
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Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
Psychological counseling services; additional support provided through partner Arem.
Additional learning support
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Country affiliation
Country affiliation
Finland (Helsinki campus); Belgium (Brussels campus)
Country affiliation
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Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
Helsinki: 10:00–14:00 official hours; Brussels: 12:00–13:00 official hours (Mon-Wed and Friday).
School day structure
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Bus service details
Bus service details
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Bus service details
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Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application / Registration fee - One-time registration (application) fee: EUR 750. This fee must be paid to complete enrollment and confirm the student's place.
Tuition fees (annual and per term by school section) — amounts exclude VAT - Pre‑School (Grade 0): EUR 8,500 per year. Per payment instalment (4 instalments per year): EUR 2,125. - Primary (Grades 1–6): EUR 9,850 per year. Per payment instalment (4 instalments per year): EUR 2,462.50. - Secondary (Grades 7–9): EUR 10,500 per year. Per payment instalment (4 instalments per year): EUR 2,625.00.
Mandatory and regularly applied additional fees - Book fee: EUR 500 per year (charged in addition to the tuition fee). - Value added tax (VAT): The listed tuition and service prices do not include VAT. The school indicates an applicable VAT rate of 25.5% to be added where relevant.
Optional services and their fees - Afternoon Club (optional): EUR 200 per month plus VAT; includes arts/crafts materials and a light snack. Afternoon program runs from 14:15 and students leave between 16:00 and 16:45. - School transport: Transport from Espoo, Vantaa and Helsinki is available and billed separately; transport is not included in the tuition fee.
Discounts - Sibling discount: 5% discount on tuition for qualifying additional children.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Payment schedule: Tuition fees are to be paid in four instalments over the school year (four equal payments). The registration fee must be paid to confirm enrollment; other additional fees (book fee, optional services, transport) are charged separately. - Timing of instalments: Fees are invoiced and payable in four instalments during the school year (the school specifies a four‑instalment schedule but does not publish specific calendar dates for each instalment on the published admissions information).
Boarding fees - Boarding is not offered; the school operates day programmes and provides optional transport and an afternoon club rather than boarding accommodation.
Other costs or incidental fees - School uniforms, special trips, external exam fees or other incidental costs are not explicitly listed in the published tuition summary; optional activities and transport are charged separately where applicable. (The book fee and afternoon club are listed separately from tuition.)
Refund information - No specific refund policy or refund conditions for tuition, registration, or other fees is published within the school's publicly available admissions and registration information. The registration fee is stated as required to confirm enrollment.
Fee details
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Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
The school is a private educational institution in cooperation with the City of Helsinki Educational Department. It adheres to Finnish basic education laws and national curriculum standards, and operates as a Home School. It collaborates with the local education departments of Helsinki, Espoo, and Vantaa.
Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
English is the primary language of instruction at Norden International School of Helsinki, with Finnish language education provided as a secondary focus. The Primary Curriculum (Grades 1–6) is designed for a well-rounded education that emphasizes academic achievement, creativity, and personal growth, with Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies (exploring history, geography, and the community), Arts & Crafts, and Physical Education. Social Studies focuses on history, geography, and the community to help students understand the world. The Secondary Curriculum (Grades 7–9) is more challenging and specialized, combining core subjects, electives, and opportunities for personal growth to promote independence, self-discipline, and collaboration. In Norden Brussels for 2026–27, English remains the language of instruction, with French and Flemish taught as additional languages; class sizes are small (10–12 students) and the program emphasizes personalized education, reading culture and libraries, performance tracking and support, arts, sports and handcrafts, a stress-free, technology-enabled learning environment, parental involvement, and psychological well-being support.
Curriculum details
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Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
Small class sizes in Norden Brussels: 10–12 students per class.
Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
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Higher education progression
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Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
The school focuses on a child-centered approach with diverse students and aims to nurture talents, foster peer learning, and support students' social development through engaging activities beyond regular classes.
Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
English is the primary language of instruction at the Helsinki campus; Finnish language education is provided as a secondary focus. In Brussels, the primary language of instruction is English, with French and Flemish taught as additional languages.
English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
Students receive psychological counseling services and well-being support at the school site; the Brussels campus notes an external educational partner provides additional support.
Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
Norden International School provides private primary and secondary education from pre-school to Grade 9. English is the primary language of instruction, with Finnish language education provided as a secondary focus. Libraries are at the heart of school life. The physical environment is designed to feel as comfortable as home, with cozy, student-friendly classrooms. Small class sizes (10-12 students) ensure personalized attention from teachers and assistant teachers.
Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
Personalized Education: Every student progresses at their own pace with continuous support. Reading Culture and Libraries: Reading is a fundamental part of the education, with libraries at the heart of school life. Physical and Social Environment: The physical environment feels like home; classrooms are cozy, student-friendly, and provide a warm learning atmosphere. Small class sizes (10-12 students) ensure personalized attention from teachers and assistant teachers. Language offerings include Swedish, Spanish, and French.
Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
Afternoon club offers ESL, IT, Art and Craft, Dancing, Board games, and Homework.
Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
Opened in August 2013, Norden International School of Helsinki began as Kielo International School. It is a private primary and secondary school located in Malmi, Helsinki, and operates in cooperation with the City of Helsinki Educational Department. English is the primary language of instruction, with Finnish language education provided as a secondary focus. The school serves students from pre-school to Grade 9 and collaborates with the education authorities of Helsinki, Espoo, and Vantaa to align with national expectations.
History
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Community
Community
The student body is diverse, with children from many countries and cultures, and the school warmly welcomes students of all backgrounds, celebrating diversity and encouraging peer learning. It offers extracurricular and social opportunities, including an Afternoon Club in Helsinki that runs from 14:15 to 16:00–16:45 with ESL, IT, art and craft, dancing, board games, and homework support (fee: 200 euros plus VAT). Parents actively participate in their children's education through parent-child programs, cultural food days, and interactive activities.
Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
The school teaches in English, with Finnish language education provided as a secondary focus. It offers primary and secondary education from pre-school to Grade 9. In Brussels, Norden International School will provide primary education in the Evere–Haren region for the 2025-2026 academic year. The Afternoon Club provides after-school enrichment with ESL, IT/media literacy, Art & Craft, Dancing, Board games, and Homework support.
Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
Secondary School includes elective courses in visual arts, music, drama, and technology. The Afternoon Club includes Art and Craft and Dancing activities. The school supports creative expression through these arts-based offerings.
Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
English is the primary language of instruction, with Finnish language education provided as a secondary focus. The student body is diverse, with children from various countries and cultures, reflecting a multicultural environment. The school operates in Helsinki and Brussels.
Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
The Afternoon Club offers activities such as ESL (English as a second language), IT/media literacy, Art & Craft, Dancing, and Board games, with homework support. Sessions run after regular school hours, providing structured recreational and educational activity.
Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
Physical Education is offered as part of the secondary program. The Afternoon Club provides after-school activities, including ESL, IT/media literacy, Art & Craft, Dancing, and Board games, supporting well-being through a mix of physical, creative, and educational activities.
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Swedish, Spanish, and French are offered as foreign languages. Students can choose from a variety of language offerings to expand their communication skills.
Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
1. Fill in the registration form. You will receive a confirmation message stating that you have received a place for the level assessment. The assessment date will be announced afterward. The application form is available online.
2. Take the level assessment. All prospective students have to go through a level assessment. Level assessments are arranged upon request. The level assessment is a required part of the admissions process.
3. Pay the registration fee. The one-time registration fee is 750 Euros. The annual school fee is 9,850 Euros plus VAT and an additional 500 Euros for books. This fee covers all expenses except for the one-time registration fee.
4. Sign the school contract. Enrollment is completed upon signing the school contract. The contract formalizes the enrollment and confirms the placement. This completes the enrollment.
