Swedish Schools Inspectorate’s regular inspection completed: 90% of IES schools entirely free of criticism

The Swedish Schools Inspectorate’s regular inspection of Internationella Engelska Skolan was completed according to plan in June 2017. Inspection of free schools is carried out every three years and encompasses all the schools operated by the principal. Where municipalities act as the principal, inspections are carried out every five years and only encompass 20% of schools.

The basic inspection of IES compulsory schools showed that 23 of 24 schools were entirely free of criticism. One school was notified of a minor shortcoming, which is now being remedied. This means that 96% of IES schools were entirely free of criticism, which can be compared to the national average after basic inspection of 74%.

In the five compulsory schools the Swedish Schools Inspectorate selected for more detailed inspection, three were found to be entirely without criticism, while two received limited and justified criticism which is now being addressed.

There was no criticism of Internationella Engelska Gymnasiet.

Overall, the Swedish Schools Inspectorate reported that 27 of 30 IES schools, i.e. 90%, were entirely without criticism. With regard to the principal, Internationella Engelska Skolan i Sverige AB, the Swedish Schools Inspectorate had no criticisms of the organization’s academic results, education in English or initiatives to ensure an orderly environment in schools. In its decisions regarding the principal, the Swedish Schools Inspectorate requires further development of after-school centres and the use of psychologists in preventative student healthcare. It also noted that two of the 30 principals do not have teacher training qualifications. They have leadership backgrounds in other forms.

“The positive results are evidence of our efforts to provide our students with the best possible education and training for the future,” commented Ralph Riber, CEO and President of Internationella Engelska Skolan.

“I would like to thank our very competent principals, teachers and other staff who provide the education that Internationella Engelska Skolan stands for.”

For more information, please contact:

Johan Hähnel, Investor Relations, IES
Tel: +46 (0)70 605 6334
Email: johan.hahnel@engelska.se

Internationella Engelska Skolan i Sverige Holdings II AB discloses the information provided herein pursuant to the EU’s Market Abuse Regulation and the Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the above contact, on 10 July 2017 at 08:15 CET.

About Internationella Engelska Skolan

Internationella Engelska Skolan, IES, is one of the leading free school operators in Sweden with some 21,400 students in 30 schools in the academic year 2016/17. IES operates schools for students in grades 1-12. Its main focus is grade 4-9, what is often called “middle school”. Within the compulsory school system in Sweden, IES is the leading independent actor, operating nine of the ten largest free schools. IES results on the national tests in grade 9 are far above average in Sweden.

Internationella Engelska Skolan was founded in 1993 and is in its 24th year of operation. It continues to be defined by three strong convictions, established by the founder, Mrs. Barbara Bergström:

• A safe and orderly environment, where teachers can teach and students learn.
• To command the English language—the key to the world.
• High academic expectations.

Up to half of the teaching in IES schools is performed in English, by native English speaking teachers. Over 700 teachers with qualified foreign teaching degrees are currently teaching in IES schools. They are mainly recruited from Canada, USA, UK and South Africa.

IES has shown a strong and consistent growth for a number of years. Average organic growth during the last ten years is 19 % per year. Turnover during the latest concluded operational year, 2015/16, was 1 807 MSEK (growth of 17 % from previous year). As of 31 March 2017, there were approximately 144,000 applications in the waiting list to secure a place for the forthcoming year.

Internationella Engelska Skolan has been listed on Nasdaq Stockholm Mid Cap with the ticker ENG since the end of September 2016. The largest shareholders of IES are TA Associates of the US, which has close affiliations to leading universities and foundations in the US, and IES’s founder Barbara Bergström. Other major shareholders as of the end of April 2017 include Swedbank Robur fonder, investment company Öresund, Norron Asset Management, the Third Swedish National Pension Fund and AMF Försäkring & Fonder (owned jointly by LO, The Swedish Trade Union Confederation and the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise).

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