Danish school system
Primary and lower secondary school
There is no compulsory school attendance in Denmark but education is compulsory from 1 August the year a child turns six and until the end of 9th grade. The three main teaching options are:
- Attend a public primary and lower secondary school (run by municipalities)
- Attend a private or independent primary and lower secondary school
- Home/private tuition (must match the teaching level in primary and lower secondary schools)
Public primary and lower secondary schools are free whereas parents must pay tuition if they enrol their children in a private or independent primary and lower secondary school.
Enrolment
It is the parents’ responsibility to enrol their children in a school the year they turn six. Enrolment must be done in the first two weeks of January. Your child will automatically be enrolled in and is guaranteed a place in the school in your local school district. Should you wish your child to attend a municipal primary and lower secondary school outside your local school district, you must indicate this when you enrol your child.
When moving to Viborg and wishing to enrol your child in a municipal primary and lower secondary school, you must contact the school in your local school district.
Private and independent schools
If you wish your child to attend a private or independent primary and lower secondary school, contact the relevant school to discuss enrolment and availability. Viborg private Realskole is the only private primary and lower secondary school in Viborg Municipality whereas there are more independent primary and lower secondary schools in Viborg Municipality.
International school
Viborg International School is a Cambridge-certified primary and lower secondary day school. Enrolment starts from the age of 5 and continues until IGCSE (age 5 to 16).
For detailed information about primary and lower secondary school in Viborg Municipality and whom to contact, see Primary and lower secondary school at viborg.dk.
Morning and afternoon care for school children
Morning and afternoon care for school children is available for children attending 0 to 7th grade.
Morning and after school care (SFO)
Viborg Municipality offers fee-based morning and after school care (SFO) for all pupils attending 0 to 3rd grade at one of Viborg Municipality’s primary and lower secondary schools. Morning care is also available to 4th grade pupils.
After school clubs (SFO-klubber and fritidsklubber)
Viborg Municipality offers fee-based after school clubs for pupils attending 4th to 7th grade at one of the Municipality’s primary and lower secondary schools.
‘SFO-klubber’ are located at the primary and lower secondary schools whereas ‘fritidsklubber’ are not.
Viborg Youth School
Viborg Youth School (Viborg Ungdomsskole) brings together a range of offers, courses, support and activities for young people with the objective to contribute to the young people’s positive development – wellbeing, learning and community are keywords.
Viborg Youth School has many different departments with different objectives and target groups. These include:
- 100+ different spare time activities available for children from the start of 7th grade and until they turn 18
- after school clubs (4th – 7th grade)
- youth clubs (7th grade – 18 years)
- 10CV – Viborg Municipality’s 10th grade (lower secondary school)
- Different offers for children with special needs
- School offer for bilingual young people who have come to Denmark after they turned 14
For detailed information about Viborg Youth School and their offers to young people, see viborgungdomsskole.dk.