The Danish School System

The Danish school system consists of both public and private schools. There are ten years of compulsory education but no compulsory school attendance.

Parents have the right to choose how their children should be taught. The majority of the Danish population chooses the public school, which is financed by taxes and thus free of charge. The classes are divided according to age, and both genders are represented.

As a main rule, a child must attend school the year of his or her sixth birthday. You register your child for school by using the self-service solution on Randers Municipality's website (in Danish).

The Danish public school covers the entire period of compulsory education, encompassing pre-school, primary school and lower secondary school.

Danish public schools are modern schools where the focus is on providing students with a broad knowledge within subjects such as languages, science and social studies. In addition, social skills, information technology, and knowledge about Danish and foreign culture are highly valued in the Danish public schools. Sports and outdoor activities are of high priority for young children, who are encouraged to participate in these from an early age.

In Denmark, students and teachers are considered equals, meaning that students' active participation in the teaching as well as a critical point of view is highly valued and seen as an important part of the learning process.

See a list of public schools in Randers (in Danish).

When your child begins attending a Danish school, he or she may experience some language difficulties. However, in Danish public schools children can receive special tuition in Danish as a second language. At the same time, Danish children begin learning foreign languages at an early age, which will make it easier for your child to be able to communicate with his or her classmates.

You can contact your child’s school to discuss potential language issues and the best way to deal with them.

You can also choose to let your child attend Aarhus International School.

Read more about Danish schools at the Danish Ministry of Children and Education's website.