Our school, Suomen Kristillinen yhteiskoulu (SKYK) offers high-quality primary and lower secondary education (basic education) and general upper secondary school education in a safe and free atmosphere. SKYK campus is located in beautiful natural surroundings by the sea in Kaarina, near the regional capital, Turku. Our school’s local curricula are based on the National Curriculum. 

In SKYK, Christian, biblical values underpin everything we do, with Christian love of neighbour as a central cornerstone. Our core values emphasize respect for God, other people and nature. 

Christianity and Christian values show in our everyday school life in many ways, for example, in annual Christian celebrations such as Christmas and Easter, in morning assemblies, and special school events. All this gives our pupils and students freedom to get to learn about the Bible and know Jesus and the Heavenly Father. 

We - all the teachers and other school staff - want to see every pupil and student as a unique individual and strive to support their personal learning, development and growth in collaboration with their guardians. We wish to provide everyone with a holistic learning environment and positive experiences of belonging to one big ‘school family’. We are “stronger together” as our school’s motto puts it. Our aim is to help our pupils and students thrive and grow into responsible individuals, capable of independent thinking and encouraged to live a healthy lifestyle.

A note to international applicants: 
The language of instruction in our school is Finnish. Unfortunately, we don’t offer preparatory education for basic education (VALMO), meant for students whose native language is not Finnish.

Primary and lower secondary education (formerly ‘basic education’) includes grades 1-9, starting the year when a child turns 7 and ending at the age of 15-16. Primary school consists of grades 1-6, and lower secondary education refers to grades 7-9. 

Pre-primary education (pre-school)

One-year pre-primary education is meant for 6-year-old children, preparing them for comprehensive school. In SKYK, preschoolers are in the same building as primary school pupils (grades 1-6), next to the main school building. Children in preschool learn through play and discovery and by doing things together in an active and encouraging atmosphere. The natural environment around the school offers plenty of possibilities for play and various outdoor activities such as trips or picnics.

Primary education (primary school)

Primary education in primary school (grades 1-6) forms the basis for further learning. Class teachers specialised in pedagogy are responsible for teaching, which is often action-based. 

Students practice using digital devices such as tablets for studying purposes. Attention is paid to possible special needs that students might have. 

Everyday life in primary school is fun and colourful in itself, but in addition, many kinds of activities, special days, trips and annual events are organized during the school year. Just like preschoolers, also primary school pupils genuinely enjoy the beautiful and versatile natural environment around the school with plenty of free space by the sea. This unique environment is not only a wonderful playground during breaks between lessons but also a great resource for various organized fun activities and trips, not forgetting the many possibilities it offers for physical education and other study purposes. 

Lower secondary education

Lower secondary school (grades 7-9) is part of nine-year comprehensive school education, which is compulsory in Finland. Our school warmly welcomes any pupil interested in lower secondary school education in a unique Christian school environment to apply to our school, whether they live in Finland or come from outside Finland. 

In addition to having a special Christian emphasis, our school provides pupils in grades 7-9 with a wide array of optional studies in e.g. religion, languages, and artistic and practical subjects. For their studies, pupils use both print material and digital devices and learning environments.

Studies in upper secondary school consist of 150 credits including both national and local study units according to the student’s personal choices. These studies typically last 3 (2-4) years, preparing the student for the matriculation examination qualifying for entry into university.

SKYK’s local upper secondary school curriculum is based on the National core curriculum for general upper secondary schools. We use digital study materials.

You can apply to our school through the joint application process, which takes place in February-March. However, admission is possible also outside this application period, so don’t hesitate to contact us if you are interested; there might be vacancies left. 

Requirements for upper secondary studies include: sufficient competence (you have completed Finnish comprehensive school or similar education), sufficient Finnish language skills, and sufficient study motivation. 

As already mentioned above, in SKYK, Christianity and Christian values show in many, positive ways in our everyday practices such as morning assemblies and special events. From a study perspective, this Christian emphasis gives upper secondary school students special possibilities to choose many local study units in religion.

Those upper secondary school students and lower secondary school pupils who live far away or come from abroad can live in our dormitory, located on our school campus, just a few steps away from the main school building.