School visits

ISTP School Visits

Early Childhood Education and Care (Preprimary schools)

Leikskóli Seltjarnarness

Address: Suðurströnd, 170 Seltjarnarnes
Principal: Margrét Gísladóttir

Leikskóli Seltjarnarness is a comprehensive preschool institution comprising 12 departments across three locations in Seltjarnarnes: Mánabrekka, Sólbrekka, and Stjörnubrekka. Our robust educational community consists of approximately 80 professional staff members serving 215 students.

The preschool prides itself on maintaining a high ratio of qualified teachers complemented by exceptional support personnel. The curriculum emphasises four core developmental areas: music education, artistic expression, environmental awareness, and social competence. Positive Discipline methodology has recently been implemented and a framework aligned with the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child is being established, as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Creative expression through art and music remains central to our pedagogical approach, enhanced by our formal partnership with the local Music School. Additionally, our collaboration with the local athletic organization, Íþróttafélagið Grótta, provides our students with weekly access to professional gymnastics facilities. Located in the center of Seltjarnarnes peninsula, the preschool benefits from proximity to numerous natural resources. These include the Grótta island nature reserve, coastal beaches, Holtið recreation area, and Plútóbrekka hill, which offers excellent terrain for seasonal activities including sledding and various outdoor educational pursuits.

Álfaheiði

Address: Álfaheiði 46, 200 Kópavogur
Principal: Anna Rósa Sigurjónsdóttir

“Share our values to create a better world.”

Established in 1990, Álfaheiði preschool serves approximately 79 children between the ages of 1-6 years across four specialized departments. Our institution benefits from exceptional staff retention, with several founding team members continuing to contribute their expertise. Our educational team comprises 47% certified preschool teachers, with an additional 13% holding advanced degrees in complementary disciplines.

At the foundation of our educational philosophy is the understanding that play constitutes the essential mechanism for childhood learning and development. Our value-based educational approach is fundamentally aligned with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. This methodology integrates eight core positive life values throughout our curriculum, with particular emphasis on children’s well-being, positive engagement, joyful experiences, and constructive communication skills.

Our primary objective is to foster positive self-conception in our students, reinforce ethical development, and cultivate mutual respect. Álfaheiði is committed to early intervention strategies implemented in close partnership with parents through targeted, evidence-based approaches.

Since 2010, our institution has systematically structured its programming around the principles articulated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, earning a certification as a Child Rights School. Additionally, as a designated “Sunflower Preschool,” our community (including children, parents, and staff) has maintained continuous support for SOS Children’s Villages since 2003.

Environmental stewardship and sustainability education represent core institutional values, reflected in our “Green Globe” environmental certification, which we have maintained since 2008.

Rauðhóll

Address: Sandavað 7, Árvað 3, Elliðabraut 26, 110 Reykjavík
Principal: Guðrún Sólveig Vignisdóttir

Rauðhóll Preschool operates in three housing facilities with a total of 197 children, making it the largest preschool in Reykjavík. Our institution employs a diverse faculty of qualified educators and specialized support staff who collectively establish the foundation for our rigorous and professional educational environment. The institutional culture is characterized by an atmosphere of joy, collegiality, and collaborative engagement, reflecting our core values of friendship, respect, and well-being. Rauðhóll’s pedagogical approach is informed by the educational philosophies of John Dewey and Caroline Pratt. Environmental education and outdoor learning constitute primary curricular components, exemplified by our distinctive Björnslundur department, which operates in a forest clearing adjacent to Heiðmörk, a nature reserve close to the preschool. Students also engage in horticultural activities within our on-site greenhouse, an initiative grounded in Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s Flow theory and the ideology “Parenting that Works – Skills for the Future”.

All educational programming at Rauðhóll is designed to enable both students and staff to leverage their individual interests and strengths, fostering development and fulfillment in both structured learning and exploratory play contexts. Our institutional objective is to graduate children who possess strong self-efficacy, advanced social competencies, and a profound appreciation for their cultural heritage and personal background.

Rauðhóll is currently engaged in a three-year research collaboration titled “Stilla”, conducted in partnership with the School of Education within the University of Iceland, the University of Akureyri, and international academic specialists. This initiative aims to integrate the concept of “slowness” into educational practices to enhance learning outcomes, drawing from Allisson Clark’s slow pedagogy framework. The complementary principles of flow and mindful deceleration are synthesized to create an enriched learning community within our institution. Additionally, Rauðhóll holds Rainbow certification from the City of Reykjavík, signifying our commitment to creating an LGBT+ inclusive environment for both students and personnel.

Integrated pre- and primary schools

Dalskóli

Address: Úlfarsbraut 118–120, 113 Reykjavík 
Principal: Auður Valdimarsdóttir 

Established in 2010, Dalskóli accommodates 670 students ranging from ages 2 to 16, supported by a professional staff of 150 members. Our integrated educational approach encompasses preprimary school, elementary education, and comprehensive after-school programming. We maintain strategic partnerships with community resources including the municipal swimming facility, public library, and sports complex.

Our guiding principle “Happiness is a journey” informs our collective approach to education, interpersonal dynamics, and institutional culture. Children are at the heart of everything we do; our entire school community and all our programs are designed to provide the best possible learning experience and support their growth and development. Through collaborative learning and shared experiences, along with a dedicated effort in communication methods, attitudes, and practical applications, we create an environment that systematically raises expectations for individual growth and success. The core operational principle of Dalskóli is on establishing an environment characterized by emotional well-being, security, and optimal conditions for student development, learning, and achievement. Our educational methodology emphasizes: Adaptive instructional techniques and operational flexibility, collaborative student engagement, interdisciplinary curriculum integration, thematic educational frameworks and inter-cohort and intra-cohort collaborative initiatives.

Dalskóli maintains an institutional ethos of profound respect for individual identity and characteristic attributes. We have established a strong professional learning community that is based on collaboration across different disciplines and collective professional development. Our instructional personnel operate within team structures and conduct action research throughout the academic cycle. The administrative leadership team’s primary function is to provide comprehensive support to all staff members, ensuring operational excellence while maintaining unwavering prioritization of student requirements. As an inclusive educational institution, Dalskóli welcomes all children irrespective of cognitive or physical capabilities, cultural background, or religious affiliation.

Krikaskóli

Address: Sunnukriki 1, 270 Mosfellsbær. 
Principal: Viktoría Unnur Viktorsdóttir 

Krikaskóli is an integrated preschool and primary school designed for children from age 2 to 9 years. The school’s philosophy, along with its architecture and grounds, has been conceived as a cohesive whole, ensuring that the environment supports and enhances the educational mission. Grounded in constructivism, a learning theory that establishes that knowledge is derived from how individuals interpret and derive meaning from their experiences. The learning environment at Krikaskóli is holistic, multifaceted, and relevant to the children and students, an approach that empowers them to actively build their own knowledge. In alignment with constructivist principles, the learning environment fosters the active development of each child’s understanding. Educational planning prioritises the connection of new knowledge to prior experiences, encourages collaboration among children, and relates subjects to the local community.

At Krikaskóli, democratic learning and teaching methods serve as both the objective and the approach. The school’s values emphasize positivity, progress, respect, and caring.

Primary schools

Seljaskóli

Address: Kleifarsel 28, 109 Reykjavík
Principal: Jóhanna Héðinsdóttir

Seljaskóli serves 670 students in grades 1 to 10 within a diverse and multicultural community in Breiðholt, where approximately 30% of the student population comes from various foreign backgrounds. The school operates a reception department tailored for students seeking international protection and features a language center specifically designed to assist students from immigrant backgrounds.

The core values of Seljaskóli are collaboration, responsibility, trust, and consideration. The school aims to provide comprehensive care for all students, enhance self-esteem, and develop social skills through high-quality instruction in core subjects, vocational education, and the performing arts, alongside targeted training in social skills.

While there is a significant focus on core subjects such as mathematics and reading, the curriculum is also adapted to address the needs of students with special requirements. Seljaskóli employs evidence-based strategies for teaching social skills, including programs like Aggression Replacement Training (ART), and emphasizes vocational education and the performing arts. In recent years, students have showcased their talents through remarkable performances for their peers and parents. Furthermore, the school features a well-equipped library accessible to all students. There is a strong commitment to fostering a reading-friendly environment, encouraging students to engage with the library as a valuable resource for improving their literacy skills.

Fellaskóli

Address: Norðurfell 17–19, 111 Reykjavík 
Principal: Helgi Gíslason 

Fellaskóli is a primary school serving 360 students in grades 1 through 10. The school is multicultural, with the majority of students speaking a native language other than Icelandic. Fellaskóli is committed to enhancing its educational practices in alignment with the National Curriculum and the Reykjavík City Education Policy, titled “Let Us Make Dreams Come True.” The school’s primary objective is to ensure equal opportunities for all students, promote engagement and democratic participation, and provide appropriate support that builds on each student’s strengths. This approach empowers students to take an active role in their learning, well-being, and environment.

Icelandic language instruction is a key focus at Fellaskóli, and all educators at the school are qualified Icelandic teachers. The guiding principles of our educational approach include language development, literacy, guided learning, music, and creativity. Language development and literacy serve as the foundation for effective learning, with a strong emphasis on reading across all grades and close collaboration with local preschool. Guided learning emphasizes targeted and effective teaching methodologies. Music plays a vital role in supporting language acquisition and overall learning. Additionally, musical, and creative activities contribute to enhancing students’ well-being, fostering a positive self-image, and strengthening their belief in their own abilities.

Upper Scondary Schools

Fjölbrautaskólinn í Garðabæ

Address: Skólabraut, 210 Garðabær 
Principal: Kristinn Þorsteinsson 

Fjölbrautaskólinn í Garðabæ is a comprehensive upper secondary school established in 1984. The school is led by Principal Kristinn Þorsteinsson and maintains an active presence on social media, regularly providing updates and sharing events on platforms such as Instagram. FG offers a diverse array of eight study programs: International studies, social sciences, design and marketing, sports, arts, natural sciences, special education and business studies. The Art Department enables students to specialize in various fields, including textile design, drama, and visual arts, thereby fostering creativity across multiple artistic disciplines. In addition to their academic pursuits, students take the initiative to organize social events such as school dances, an annual ski trip, and international travel opportunities, enriching their school experience both socially and culturally.

Tækniskólinn - Technical School

Address: Sjómannaskólinn, Háteigsvegur 35-39, 105 Reykjavík
Principal: Hildur Ingvarsdóttir

Tækniskólinn (Technical College) is Iceland’s largest upper secondary school, hosting over 3,000 students enrolled in approximately 50 different study programs. The institution provides a wide range of vocational programs, including carpentry, electrotechnology, marine engineering, navigation, hairdressing, tailoring, and plumbing, among others. Additionally, it offers university preparatory programs focused on technology, computer programming, innovation, and design.

The school is located across multiple buildings at five different locations but guest at the ISTP2025 are invited to the “Seamen’s Building” (Sjómannaskólinn) for the following program:

  • A brief welcome and presentation about the school in the event hall (Hátíðarsalur)
  • An opportunity to ‘sail away’ in navigation simulators
  • A visit to the digital entertainment program RADE
  • A tour of a computer science robotics class
  • A visit to the building’s tower, which offers one of the best views of Reykjavík and its surroundings.
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