Nine years of school. Zero standardised tests.
Finland built one of the world's most closely studied education systems around trust instead of testing. This is the thinking behind FGES at Sanctus World School.
One phenomenon. Every subject at once.
Since 2016, every school in Finland has run at least one phenomenon-based learning module a year — a stretch of weeks where subject boundaries dissolve.
A module doesn't start with "what subject is this?" — it starts with "what do we need to understand this properly?"
What every lesson is building
Finland's curriculum names seven transversal competencies that run underneath every subject. Hover to reveal.
Thinking & Learning to Learn
Learning how to ask good questions, reason through problems, and understand how you personally learn best.
Cultural Competence
Understanding viewpoints and expressing ideas through art and language.
Care of Oneself
Practical life skills — managing time and personal responsibility.
Multi- literacy
Creating meaning across text, data, and media.
ICT Competence
Using digital tools responsibly and thinking critically online.
Working Life
Learning to plan, collaborate, and see a project through.
Building a Sustainable Future
Having a genuine voice in the classroom and responsibility toward a fairer world.