The Norwegian School in London

The Norwegian School in London is in Wimbledon, London. Address: 28 Arterberry Road, Wimbledon SW20 8AH, United Kingdom. The school is a short walk from Wimbledon Station, which has Tube and National Rail links, and Raynes Park Station. The surrounding area is residential Wimbledon.

Primary School Y1-4; Primary School Y5-7; Secondary School Y8-10.

Norwegian international school following the Norwegian LK-20 curriculum.

Pupils come from Norway, the rest of Scandinavia, the UK and beyond.

Norwegian as a second language support with individualized education plans; pupils with insufficient Norwegian receive extra support and follow their own Norwegian IEP until they can follow ordinary Norwegian teaching; English language tuition is maintained to a high standard.

Norway.

The Norwegian School in London follows the Norwegian national curriculum LK-20 in full. It blends the Norwegian curriculum with London as an extended classroom to reflect British values alongside Norwegian educational priorities. Years 1–2 and 3–4 have a total of 23 hours per week of teaching, while Years 5–7 and Years 8–10 have 28.5 hours per week, with subject offerings including Norwegian, English, a third language (German/French/Spanish), Maths, Science, Social Studies, KRLE, Music, Art & Craft, Home Economics and Physical Education; there is career guidance and optional subjects in later years. English is taught with both a native English-speaking teacher and a Norwegian teacher, and the curriculum is largely topic-based and cross-curricular in line with fagfornyelsen. The school uses London as a classroom, with trips to museums, theatres and other cultural sites; reading development is supported by The Oxford Reading Tree and Cambridge ESOL exams (KET, PET and FCE) for Years 5–7.

The Norwegian School in London promotes positive mental health and wellbeing for the whole school community. Mental health is recognised as important to learning, and the school aims to develop protective factors that support students. All children should feel valued and safe, have a sense of belonging, and be able to speak openly to trusted adults without stigma. Bullying is not tolerated. The curriculum emphasises mental wellbeing and includes RSHE lessons, regular class meetings focused on monthly values, and a cross-curricular approach to health and resilience. The school also uses activities such as student councils, assemblies, and educational trips to support social development, with staff trained to recognise and respond to mental health issues and to refer to external services when needed.

The school has its own SENCO and collaborates with PPT Utland, the educational/psychological service for Norwegian schools abroad, and the County Governor. PPT Utland can assess pupils for Individually Tailored Instruction (ITO), and the Governor makes decisions based on PPT's recommendations. PPT Utland visits the school one to two times per year, with close collaboration outside visits. Pupils who are referred to PPT Utland, or who receive ITO, must have a Norwegian passport. We also collaborate with local authorities if PPT Utland does not cover specific needs.

The school uses Norwegian as the language of instruction and follows the Norwegian curriculum. If a pupil starts with insufficient Norwegian to follow teaching, the school will assess language skills and, in cooperation with the family, consider a referral to PPT Utland. Pupils with insufficient Norwegian or Norwegian as a second language may receive special education and follow an Individual Learning Plan until they can follow regular instruction. Pupils learn Norwegian through immersion, by being immersed in language in all contexts. Close cooperation with families is essential to support language development at home.

The school recognises that mental health and wellbeing are important and aims to promote positive mental health for all pupils. It seeks to identify and support children with mental health needs and to train staff to recognise signs and respond appropriately. Staff training in mental health is part of regular safeguarding preparation, and concerns are logged and monitored when raised. External services such as CAHMS and the Children and Families Hub are engaged for further advice and support when needed. A values-based, whole‑school approach, RSHE lessons, regular class meetings, and a range of activities and trips contribute to resilience and wellbeing.

The school has a Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy aligned with Keeping Children Safe in Education (2024) and related guidance, with defined safeguarding contacts and external safeguarding partners. The designated safeguarding lead is Monika Herland and the deputy DSL is Lise Meling Karlsen; the safeguarding governor is Tone Myhre. Staff receive induction and ongoing safeguarding training, and the policy covers online safety, abuse definitions, and procedures for reporting concerns. Safeguarding responsibilities extend to off-site activities, pupils with special educational needs or English as an additional language, and looked-after or previously looked-after children. External safeguarding partners include the local authority LADO, Merton Children and Families Hub, the police, and the UK Safer Internet Centre.

1. The school is open to applicants who support the school ethos and wish to receive education based on the Norwegian Curriculum; the main language of tuition is Norwegian. Applicants who are not Norwegian citizens may be asked to attend an interview or prove sufficient knowledge of Norwegian (or another Scandinavian language); the Head Teacher will decide on suitability. Norwegian State Grants may also cover Special Education following separate decisions by Norwegian authorities. For those not eligible for Norwegian State Grants, full fees are payable as determined by the Governors; any costs related to Special Educational Needs will be charged additionally. The governors have absolute discretion to approve or reject any admission application. 2. Admission is based on completion of an Application Form from the school homepage and submission of the information requested therein. 3. The Deadline for Applications is 1st March for starting the following School Year; however applications may be accepted and admission granted at other times provided that there are sufficient places available. Capacity is such that all applicants who satisfy the criteria are expected to be offered a place. 4. Pupils already on roll will keep their places for the following year. 5. Applications are subject to priority as follows: 5.1 Children in the Nursery applying for place on Year 1; 5.2 Staff Members' and Board Members' Children; 5.3 Children with siblings in the school; 5.4 Seniority of application. 6. Short stay applications: 6.1 Applications for an entire School Year have priority over applications for One Term; 6.2 Short-term applications of minimum three months may be considered if there are sufficient places available in the relevant year group; applicants must pay the fee equal to one term (6 months) regardless of the actual length of stay. 7. A place must be taken up no later than four weeks after the place is available; payment is required for the entire period from the day the place is allocated as the first school day. 8. Applications submitted before the deadline will be handled as follows: 8.1 An Admission Committee Meeting will be held within one week; 8.2 The Admission Committee is chaired by the Head Teacher; 8.3 Outcomes will be provided before 15 March; 8.4 If there is a waiting list, a new Admission Committee meeting will be held in the first week of May. 9. Following initial admission to the Primary or Secondary School, all of these requirements must be met before a place is allocated and reserved: 9.1 Completion of an Admission Form with additional information; 9.2 Payment of a deposit of £250 per place; 9.3 Signing of a Contract for a School Place. 10. For pupils with Special Educational Needs, adequate and complete information in good time is essential for preparing teaching and training. 11. Complaints: 11.1 Any complaints should be handled according to the School Complaints Procedure; 11.2 Norwegian citizens will also have a separate right to file a complaint with Norwegian authorities if an application for a place is not approved. The school will provide further information in case of a rejection.

Waiting list: A waiting list may be used. If a waiting list exists, an Admission Committee Meeting is held within the first week of May.