For many Danes, a year at an Efterskole is much more than a school year; it is a journey, which prepares young people for adulthood both academically and personally.
The Efterskole is a unique self-governing independent Danish Boarding School where students between the ages of 14 and 17 can choose to spend a year or two of their secondary school education.
The first schools were founded about 150 years ago and were closely related to the Danish Folk High School and the educational ideas of NFS Grundtvig (1789–1872) who wanted schools to offer enlightenment for life, rather than just formal educational training.
Compared to the public schools, the Efterskole has substantial freedom in, for example, choice of subjects, teaching methods and educational approach. The schools and students receive substantial state subsidies. There are more than 260 Efterskoler throughout Denmark and the number of students has increased considerably within the last 25 years. They all embrace a common educational focus on enlightenment for life, general education and democratic citizenship.
The fact that students live together at the school and may spend their weekends there too, means the Efterskole can also help to develop students’ social and interpersonal skills.
Teachers at an Efterskole are responsible for the supervision and personal well-being and development of students as well as teaching. This establishes a positive personal relationship between the teachers and students. Through dialogue and debate students work on defining their individual needs, values and identity.
Research has shown that young people, who have attended an Efterskole, are better prepared to succeed and complete upper secondary and higher education. They gain maturity, independence, self-confidence and enhance their self-esteem and self-worth particularly through interaction with other students.
A year at an Efterskole like The International - Academy and Boarding School of Denmark has also been proven to build lasting friendships and relationships, expand horizons, help students gain knowledge and perspective on life as well as enhancing their sense of community and sense of shared responsibility, along with their self-awareness, integrity and interpersonal skills.
The International – Academy and Boarding School of Denmark is the first school in Denmark to offer this unique schooling and personal development opportunity in an international context. Everything takes place in English so that students from all over the world can profit from the experience of attending a Danish efterskole.
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