In the UK, a private Swedish company has finally been allowed to operate schools in England. These new schools will be classified as Academies. Kunskapsskolan, a Swedish company that runs 32 schools in Sweden, has been accepted by the Richmond Council and was granted permission to operate two Academies in the country. Academies are schools that are government funded but are run independently. Academies are seen by the English government as vehicles for driving up standards in the English learning system.

The Conservatives in the parliament are also enthusiastic in welcoming the Swedish style of teaching mainly because of its emphasis on personal learning. Furthermore, the Richmond Council voted for the Hampton Community College and the Whitton School to be the schools that will be run by Kunskapsskolan. Operations will hopefully start by autumn next year.

The final plan will still be submitted for approval before the ministers in the next few weeks. It will mark as the first time that the Swedish company was formally approved to operate in England.

Councilor Malcolm Eady, from Richmond Council, comments that the Academies program is geared towards improving schools in England. By far, this is one of the most important decisions the administration has made in terms of education. For Hampton and Whitton, they will greatly benefit from the exposure on their way to become “genuine centers of excellence.”

Steve Bolingbroke, managing director of Kunskapsskolan UK, said that the decision of the Richmond Council comes as a very big success for the Swedish company. “Over the last 21 months we have worked with parents, staff and students at both schools to shape the final proposals.”

In addition to this, Kunskapsskolan will be setting a charitable trust, the “Learning Schools trust,” to manage the schools with the Richmond Council sitting on its board. Each student in Kunskapsskolan will be provided with a private tutor, who will also track the progress made by his students and make necessary adjustments when certain methods are ineffective.