What would you say to a school week focusing on your favourite subject or a topic that interests you? Yes please! The weighted-curriculum education in the City of Helsinki’s comprehensive schools makes this possible.
Weighted-curriculum education means that more time is dedicated to studying a specific subject or topic. Because of this, the school week in weighted-curriculum education can be 1–2 hours longer than that of general education.
– Pupils are allowed to focus on a subject that motivates and interests them, says City of Helsinki Education Division pedagogical specialist Melina Lukkarinen.
Weighted-curriculum education has been provided in Finland for decades in subject such as music. Currently, the range of subjects and topics offered in weighted-curriculum education is extensive. In Helsinki, pupils may choose their area of interest among sixteen subject areas.
– The offering is based on the schools’ enthusiasm, interest and competence. Weighted-curriculum education requires teachers to have special interests or competence.
Media education, mathematics and modern dance
In Helsinki, weighted-curriculum education starts in the first, third or seventh grade. In the first grade, weighted-curriculum education is offered in Music.
Starting from the third grade, weighted-curriculum education is offered in Artistic expression, Modern dance, Music, Physical education, Self-expression and Visual arts.
When applying for the seventh grade, weighted-curriculum education is available in subjects called Artistic expression, Communications, Dance art, Dance, movement and self-expression, Digital arts, Latin, Mathematics, Mathematics and natural sciences, Media education, Music, Nature and science, Physical education, Physical education and home economics, Self-expression, Technology education and Visual arts.
Thirty comprehensive schools in Helsinki offer weighted-curriculum education starting from the seventh grade.
– The goal is to ensure every pupil the opportunity to apply to weighted-curriculum education offered by a school within reasonable travel distance in their own local area. A wide array of weighted-curriculum education is available across the city, says pedagogical specialist Anni Holopainen from the City of Helsinki Education Division.
Aptitude tests held early in the year
Applications to weighted-curriculum education are submitted annually between the beginning of November and the end of January. Pupils applying for the education must take an aptitude test. More detailed information on the application methods, schedules and aptitude tests can be found on the website of the schools that organise the education. If necessary, multilingual families can contact staff at the child's own school and multilingual instructors and request support for applying to weighted-curriculum education.
Pupils can apply to five different options placed in the order of preference. Schools that offer same subject use the same aptitude test. For example, a pupil applying to five different Visual arts programmes will only take one aptitude test.
– Most of the weighted curricula are offered in several schools. You should go ahead and apply to all options to improve your chances of being selected, Holopainen says.
Aptitude tests screen for the abilities gained thus far at school. There is no reason to be nervous before the test, and the tests do not, as a rule, require you to prepare for them. You only need to show up and be yourself.
– The aptitude test for weighted curriculum in Artistic expression tests the applicant’s abilities in design, drawing, music and self-expression comprehensively. You do not need to have had artistic hobbies, Lukkarinen says.
Motivation is key
In spring 2024, more than 2,000 of the approximately 5,500 pupils moving on to the seventh grade applied for either weighted-curriculum, English-language or bilingual education. Slightly more than half of the applicants were selected.
Two weighted-curriculum education programmes were not realised due to a low number of applicants. Nearly all of the weighted-curriculum programmes had some unfilled places.
According to Lukkarinen, the objective is that the pupil continues in their selected weighted-curriculum education until the end of comprehensive school.
– The most important thing is that the child or young person is committed to the weighted-curriculum education, and does not only apply to please their guardian.
New weighted-curriculum programmes will be established if there are needs and interest locally. New weighted curricula in recent years include e.g. the Physical education programme at Itäkeskus Comprehensive School and the Artistic expression programme at Kannelmäki Comprehensive School, which previously started in seventh grade, but as of spring 2025, can be started in third grade.
According to Holopainen and Lukkarinen, Weighted-curriculum education is alive and well and changes and improves with the times to meet the needs of the modern school life.
– The development is steered by equality and equity. The City of Helsinki wants to make weighted-curriculum education accessible to all.
Original text in Finnish: Eveliina Lauhio
