The School

Mattlidens Gymnasium provides excellence in teaching and learning, in a tolerant, compassionate and open-minded international environment. We support students in developing their potential as critical thinkers and creative life-long learners, by actively involving them in the learning process and their community

The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.

These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

The IB learner profile describes a broad range of human capacities and responsibilities that go beyond academic success.

They imply a commitment to help all members of the school community learn to respect themselves, others and the world around them.

Each of the IB's programmes is committed to the development of students according to the IB learner profile.

The profile aims to develop learners who are:

• Inquirers
• Knowledgeable
• Thinkers
• Communicators
• Principled
• Open-minded
• Caring
• Risk-takers
• Balanced
• Reflective 

Mattlidens gymnasium (established in 1957) is the largest Swedish language high school in Espoo, and the only Swedish language IB school in the capital region. In 1990, we were among the first schools in Finland authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma programme. Since 2001, we have had a double intake (50 students per cohort) which has made it possible for us to expand the range of subjects offered. 

The school complex houses the primary school (7-12 years), comprehensive school (13-15 years), and high school (16-19 years). In total, there are 1200 students who attend Mattlidens skola - 670 in the high school (150 are in the IB section). Over the years, the building has expanded to accommodate the growing student body, and many areas have been newly renovated, providing the students and staff of Mattlidens gymnasium with modern facilities, well-functioning laboratories for the sciences, and various study spaces. We also have a well-stocked gym that students are free to use during the school day. 

In addition, the school has a convenient location in Matinkylä (Mattby in Swedish), Espoo (Esbo). We are easily accessible by public transport - it is a short walk to the metro station in Iso Omena and there are buses that operate during school hours. 

Finally, the school is in many ways internationally orientated. Our students come from a diverse range of language and cultural backgrounds. There are numerous possibilities to develop skills in a range of languages, even to start Finnish or Swedish from scratch (during preDP). The school is involved in numerous international projects, giving students an opportunity to meet and interact with students from different countries.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is an internationally recognized matriculation examination which qualifies candidates for admission to universities and colleges all over the world. At Mattlidens gymnasium, the programme consists of a two-year course (grades 11-12) preceded by a preparatory year (grade 10). The IB Diploma Programme is demanding and it differs in many respects from the Finnish national curriculum. Some of the remarkable differences are:

• students study the same 6 subjects for the 2 years of the Diploma Programme
• all subjects are examined at the end of the 2 years. The examinations take place in May on the same days in every country in the northern hemisphere. 
• in addition to examinations, each subject involves coursework component(s) (e.g. oral assessment in languages and lab reports in the sciences). 

The IB Diploma Programme consists of six subject groups and students choose one subject from each of the groups (if a subject isn’t chosen in the arts, then a second subject is chosen from another group). Three of the subjects must be studied at higher level (HL) and three at standard level (SL). The subjects offered at Mattlidens gymnasium are as follows:

• Studies in language and literature. English/Finnish/Swedish A: literature (HL/SL), English A: Language and Literature (HL/SL) 
• Language acquisition. Finnish B (HL/SL), French B, Swedish B (SL), Swedish ab initio (SL)
• Individuals and societies. History, Economics, Global Politics (HL/SL)
• Sciences. Biology, Chemistry, Physics (HL/SL)
• Mathematics. Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (HL/SL) OR Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation (SL)
• The Arts. Visual Arts (SL)

Due to factors such as group size and scheduling, it is impossible to carry out all desired combinations of subjects and levels. For a group to be formed or a higher level subject to be taught there needs to be a sufficient number of students interested in studying the particular subject and level. We cannot guarantee that all languages and all HL subjects will be taught every year. 

Alongside the Diploma subjects, each student must also successfully complete the IB core in order to qualify for the IB Diploma. The core elements are: 

CAS (Creativity, Action, Service): Students participate in and organize activities linked to creativity (e.g. music and art), action (e.g. sports), and service (e.g. volunteer work). Upon the completion of an activity, students must reflect upon the experience.

EE (Extended Essay): Each student writes a 4000 word essay in a subject and on a topic of their own choice. They are supervised by a teacher in that subject.

TOK (Theory of Knowledge): A course in critical thinking where students are encouraged to question the nature of knowledge. Assessment involves an exhibition and an essay on a prescribed title.