Finnish basic education in Turku
Your child receives free basic education in Finnish at City owned schools. Turku also has other schools.
The City's Finnish language comprehensive schools are divided into different school districts, depending on where your child lives. The local school is determined by your child's official place of residence.
Comprehensive school starts the year your child turns seven. Situations where there is an official decision to start school earlier or later are exceptions.
You can also apply for a school place for your child at the Turku International School, Turun normaalikoulu, Turku Steiner School or enrol your child in the city's Swedish language basic education. Apply in Wilma.
At what age do you go to school?
Basic education is for students aged 7 to 16 in grades 1-9.
Enrolment to school
For first-year students starting basic education in Finnish, a decision on their local school is made early in the year based on their home address. The school is not always the nearest school to you. Your local school and your nearest school might not be the same thing.
However, school journeys should be as safe and short as possible, taking into account the settlement, the location of schools and transport options.
The Joint Operations Area
As of 1 January 2026, the City of Turku's services for children and young people have switched to an model of joint operations area. The city is divided into southern, northern, eastern and western areas. There are about eight schools and about 12 daycare centres in each area. The Swedish-language services will continue to operate as a separate area.
The regional principals of basic education, the regional managers of early childhood education and care and the heads of youth services form three-person teams in their areas. Together, they plan and coordinate their area's services for children and young people.
The core teams also include other actors in services for children and young people, such as morning and afternoon activities for schoolchildren, sports and cultural services, and the third sector operators in the area.
The regional principals of basic education are responsible for the activities of the schools in their area and act as the immediate supervisors of the principals of the schools.
The regional principals of Basic Education
- Pasi Björk, Eastern Area
Hannunniitun koulu, Turku International School, Katariinan koulu, Kiinamyllyn koulu, Nummenpakan koulu and Pääskyvuoren koulu.
Contact information: pasi.bjork@turku.fi
- Tanja Kytöniemi, Western Area
Aunelan koulu, Luostarivuoren koulu, Mikaelin koulu, Pansion koulu, Puolalan koulu and Topeliuksen koulu
Contact information: tanja.kytoniemi@turku.fi
- Katriina Sulonen, Southern Area
Haarlan koulu, Ilpoisten koulu, Lausteen koulu, Luolavuoren koulu, Puropellon koulu, Syvälahden koulu, Vasaramäen koulu, Vähä-Heikkilän koulu and Wäinö Aaltosen koulu
Contact information: katriina.sulonen@turku.fi
- Miina Orell, North Area
Hepokullan koulu, Jäkärlän koulu, Paattisten koulu, Raunistulan koulu, Rieskalähteen koulu, Teräsrautelan koulu, Turun Lyseon koulu and Yli-Maarian koulu
Contact information: miina.orell@turku.fi