Paul Lambert Feb 10, 2017:

I see where you were coming from with "åk"... ...however, I am not aware of any special education for gifted children in Sweden. (Plenty for "thickies" as you put it, e.g. autistic children and those with other difficulties).

Tania McConaghy Feb 10, 2017:

parallelklass the classes are not graded according to ability in Sweden however it is common for the same group of students to stay together as one class for many years (unlike some countries where kids are mixed into a new clas each year)

Paul Lambert Feb 10, 2017:

Furthermore I understand this simply to mean that there are 3 classes in preschool running in parallel, and then 3 for grade 1, 3 for grade 2, 3 for grade 3 etc. A total of 21 classes covering the seven school years of f-6

Paul Lambert Feb 10, 2017:

You're barking up the wrong tree åk is short for "årskurs" - lit. "year course", i.e., grade, form

SafeTex (asker) Feb 10, 2017:

Helllo all I've come to realise that I don't understand treparallellig (or tvåparallellig) åk either
Well, I get "åk" (kind of school 'pathway') but just can't find a word for it and it's not for lack of trying.
IF the pathways are parallel, is the difference based on ability like "top class", "second class" and weakest students?
Thanks

Tania McConaghy Feb 10, 2017:

The appropriate EN term for förskoleklass will depend on the target audience. In Sweden, F-klass is not complusory however in many countries school is compulsory from this age. If your text is about a building permit, such issues may perhaps be unimportant.