Swedish Schools Inspectorate may make unannounced visits to Sigtuna School amid abuse investigation

The police are investigating several incidents that allegedly occurred at the boarding school during the autumn. Five people are suspected, three of whom are in custody. Eight people are plaintiffs.

The suspected crimes include sexual harassment, aggravated assault and unlawful coercion. There are also suspicions of aggravated domestic violence, according to SVT.

"This is very serious information," says Marie Axelsson, director general of the Swedish Schools Inspectorate, during a visit to the Riksdag’s Education Committee on Tuesday.

Culture of silence

Since the events, the Swedish Schools Inspectorate has received around 20 reports, including anonymous reports and reports from concerned parents, and the authority is now launching an investigation.

We feel it is necessary to initiate an inspection where we can ask the school principal how they have acted and intend to act in the future to prevent further violations, says Axelsson.

This may include unannounced as well as announced visits, interviews with students individually and in groups, anonymous surveys, and checking that the school has a robust plan to prevent abusive treatment.

An investigation can take time and result in various measures by the Swedish Schools Inspectorate, including fines, orders to make corrections or the school being temporarily closed. Sigtunaskolan is an independent upper secondary school run by the Sigtuna School Foundation, and the principal could ultimately have its permit revoked.

"It all depends on what the principal does to meet the legal requirements. There are a number of possible outcomes in this case," says Axelsson.

Previously reviewed

The Swedish Schools Inspectorate inspected Sigtuna School this summer to check whether it offered sufficient special support. Information about abuse also emerged.

But it was more a matter of someone being stupid, someone saying something mean, and when it became known, the staff took action. So it wasn’t of that nature at all.

The authority has looked back to 2012, and there have been reports of abusive treatment on a couple of occasions.

But there are very few signals compared with other schools, says Axelsson.

The Left Party, which has called for Sigtuna School to be closed, welcomes the decision to launch an inspection.

I think that’s great, says Hawar Asaiesh, the Left Party’s chair of the education committee.

She believes stricter legislation is needed. Anders Ygeman, the Social Democrats’ education policy spokesperson, agrees:

I mean that it must be easier to close a school where these kinds of violations occur time and again.