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Pirkkala High School 

General information 

Pirkkala High School is located in the western part of Finland, in the municipality of Pirkkala, with a population of approximately 20,000. The building is modern, spacious and accessible, offering versatile and adaptable spaces for studying.  Currently, it serves 270 students and employs 20 teachers. 

High school education in Finland generally takes three years to complete. At the end of their studies, students complete a matriculation examination, or final exams, consisting of at least five subjects. The exams are held twice a year, and students often divide them between two or more examination sessions. 

The academic year in Finland begins in August and ends in December, while the spring semester begins in January and ends in June. The school year is divided into five periods, each consisting of approximately 7 weeks of studying followed by an exam and project week.  

The curriculum provides a plethora of courses to choose from. Students plan their schedules, and the number of courses may vary between the periods. To graduate, students have to complete 150 credits (1 course = 2 credits).  

Course selection 

Humanities: 

History, languages (Finnish, Swedish, English, German, Russian, Spanish) philosophy, psychology, religion, social studies 

Natural sciences: 

Biology, chemistry, geography, mathematics, physics 

Arts and physical education: 

Arts, music, sports 

Studying in teams 

At Pirkkala High School, first-year students take part in a team period. That involves studying mandatory subjects in groups of four for one period. Teachers integrate subjects such as English, Finnish, geography and health education into projects for students to complete collaboratively. 

Additionally, students at our school can participate in a project called Innova, in which they collaborate with various external companies and organizations from different sectors. The companies and organizations provide assignments to the students who then innovate solutions and introduce new ideas.  

Contact information  

Principal: marjukka.suihko@pirkkala.fi