A typical school day for a student in Finland is calm, flexible, and centered around the child's well-being. The day often starts around 8.15 am, and sometimes even later at 9.30 am. Many students ride their bicycles to school, since schools are usually located near their homes, as per the Education Finland website.
One example is Metsokangas School in Oulu, which uses modern and open learning spaces. Its newest building, Korpimetso, doesn't follow the old classroom style. Instead, it has four large learning areas that can each hold up to 100 people, including students, teachers, and assistants. These spaces can be rearranged to support different types of learning, group work, and activities.
Also Read: How Finland Built One Of The Best Education Systems On Earth
At the beginning of each week, students are given their assignments and are free to plan when and how they complete them. Much of the schoolwork is done in groups or as projects. The learning tasks are designed to match each student's needs, interests, and strengths. In these open spaces, some students might be researching countries in Europe, others practicing English with a teacher, and some playing learning games or reading quietly. If any student needs extra help or the space becomes too noisy, teachers or assistants step in. There are also quiet, soundproof corners for focused or private study.
Subjects like arts and crafts are popular. The school has special rooms designed for hands-on activities like painting and building. Each lesson lasts for 60 minutes and is followed by a 15-minute break. The lunch break is longer, and students spend their free time outdoors, sometimes even walking into nearby woods.
The school day usually ends by 1:30 pm. After school, children return home-often by bike-have a snack, and do a small amount of homework, which typically takes only about 10 minutes. In the afternoons, they spend time with friends, play, or attend hobbies like dance classes. Parents or public transport help them get to their activities.
Finland's education system focuses on independence, creativity, and joy in learning. It provides a peaceful and supportive environment where children can grow with confidence and curiosity.
