Information for guardians on the transferring to lower secondary school
A student studying at a Vantaa school does not have to enroll in a lower secondary school. However, see the application instructions below if
-you want to apply for a place at a lower secondary school based on special grounds or the sibling principle,
-you want to apply for a secondary choice of a school,
-the student is interested in weighted-curriculum education.
Ruusuvuori school. Photo: Sercan Alkan/City of Vantaa
A student studying at a Vantaa school does not have to enroll in a lower secondary school; the district manager designates the school based on the student’s place of residence. The decision on the student’s local school for the duration of lower secondary school will be sent to Wilma by January 22, 2026. The school does not change when transferring to upper secondary school if the decision on the student’s local school has already been made until the end of the 9th grade.
Special grounds and the sibling principle for designating local school
If a guardian applies for a local-school place for the student based on special grounds (a health-related reason or another special reason) or on the basis of the sibling principle, the guardian shall fill out an application:
Application for specifying local school based on special reasons or the sibling principle (531138e)(pdf, 138.57 KB)The guardian shall mail the form to the district manager by October 31, 2025, address:
Kasvatus ja oppiminen / aluepäällikkö
PL 1500
01030 Vantaan kaupunki.
You can also scan the form and email it to lahikoulu@vantaa.fi.
Applying for a secondary choice of a school
A guardian can apply for another, secondary choice of a school, if they are not satisfied with the local school assigned to the student. An application to this secondary choice of a school should be delivered to the school from which the student place is applied for by February 6, 2026. Application information will be sent to the guardians on February 13, 2026.
Hakemus toissijaiseen kouluun (531152)(pdf, 128.11 KB)(Application form for a secondary choice of a school)
More information under the heading "Applying for a secondary choice of a school".
Weighted-curriculum education for the duration of lower secondary school
- Weighted-curriculum education in music: Please note that 6th graders must apply for the weighted-curriculum education in music by October 10, 2025. This applies to students who are not yet enrolled in weighted-curriculum in music.
- Basic education taught in English: The students of English-speaking classes from Kaivoksela and Rekolanmäki schools can continue their studies at the International School of Vantaa in grades 7–9.
- Swedish language immersion: 6th graders do not need to apply separately for language immersion education for grades 7-9, as they are automatically assigned a place at either Kilterin koulu (for students from Uomarinne) or Peltolan koulu (for students from Viertola).
Urhea activities
Urhea activities in Vantaa lower secondary schools support the coordination of schooling and athletics of children and young people that take part in goal-oriented athletic operations.
Applications for Urhea activities shall be submitted when in the 6th grade. The application period is from January 26 to February 6, 2026. Application information will be sent to the guardians through Wilma in December 2025.
