School

Primary and lower secondary schools

There are eleven municipal primary and lower secondary schools in Gentofte Kommune. 

See a list of primary and lower secondary schools (in Danish)

You can also visit the schools’ own websites:

Bakkegårdsskolen 

Dyssegårdsskolen 

Gentofte skole 

Hellerup skole

Maglegårdsskolen

Munkegårdsskolen

Ordrup skole

Skovgårdsskolen

Skovshoved skole

Søgårdsskolen

Tjørnegårdsskolen

Tranegårdskolen

Ungdomsskolen (an evening school for young people)

Private schools

Gentofte Kommune has six private schools.

Read about private schools (in Danish)

You can find the private schools’ own websites here:

Bernadotteskolen 

Busses Skole

Kildegård Privatskole

Rygaards Skole

Sct. Joseph Søstrens skole

Vidarskolen

Education is compulsory in Denmark. This means all children who live in Denmark must be taught from the age of 6 to 16 (Classes 0 to 9).

Teaching can take place in a primary and lower secondary school, a private school or at home. What matters is that the child is taught the same as is taught in primary and lower secondary school.

Your child has to start school the year he/she turns 6. The school year starts in August. Children proceed directly from kindergarten to Class 0. In other words, Danish primary and lower secondary schools don’t have pre-schools.

In some cases, a child can start school at age 5. If you are unsure whether your child is ready to start school, please contact your kindergarten for a chat. If your child doesn’t go to a kindergarten, you can talk to a headmaster. Please e-mail skoleindskrivning@gentofte.dk for further assistance.

Municipal primary and lower secondary schools are open to all children in classes 0 to 10. All children in Denmark have the right to a place in a primary and lower secondary school. Gentofte Kommune is responsible for primary and lower secondary schools and there is no charge for a child to attend. There are eleven municipal primary and lower secondary schools in Gentofte.

Private schools are privately owned schools and you have to pay for your child’s schooling at private schools. The private schools in Gentofte have international lines too. The schools have nothing to do with Gentofte Kommune, so you have to contact them yourself.

Your child is being supported in preparing for school life at kindergarten. Your role in your child’s transition to school life is important and you can support your child’s successful transition to school life in a variety of ways. Read more in the pamphlet below.

A Successfuld Transition From Daycare To School

Yes, your child can attend a Danish primary or lower secondary school even if they don’t speak Danish.

To learn the language, your child will be placed in a ViTo reception class for children between the ages of 6 and 14. The purpose of this class is to teach pupils enough Danish to participate in regular primary or lower secondary school lessons.

The students in the reception class will receive 30 hours of weekly tuition. Your child can participate in the class for a period ranging from four weeks to two years, depending on their background and language abilities.

When your child is ready to transition to a regular primary or lower secondary school class, this will be arranged in close cooperation between Gentofte Kommune, ViTo, and you as parents.

The reception class is taught at Skovshoved Skole and Bakkegårdsskolen respectively.

To learn more, please contact:

• Mikala Baudach, Phone: +45 23 98 44 91, Email: mika4766@gskoler.dk
• Jacob Berger Strønæs, Phone: +45 29 29 21 47, Email: jbe@gentofte.dk

Please note: To enroll your child in Danish language classes at Gentofte Kommune, please forward a valid and signed rental or purchase contract to our secure email address: gentofte@gentofte.dk.

Please put "School Enrollment" in the subject line.

When you enrol your child for Class 0, you can include up to three schools in your request. This means you can request the school in Gentofte Kommune that you would most like your child to attend.

You can visit the schools’ websites and go to an open house to get to know them.

Please e-mail skoleindskrivning@gentofte.dkto enrol your child in primary and lower secondary school.

To enrol your child at a private school, you must make direct contact with the school.

After school, children from Class 0 up to and including Class 3 can attend an after-school club (GFO). Your child is automatically enrolled in a GFO when he/she is enrolled at a school.

From Class 4 upwards, Gentofte Kommune offers leisure and youth clubs. You can sign your child up for an after-school club via digital placement.

Sign your child up via digital placement

See a list of after-school clubs and youth clubs (in Danish)

Yes, if the child:

• Is of compulsory education
• Lives in Gentofte Municipality
• Is supported by a person who resides in Denmark and is a citizen of the EU, EØS, Greenland or Færøerne. 

You can only apply for free education for your child in the main language of the above countries. Gentofte Municipality covers the costs of this education.

Please note that classes will only be created if there are at least 12 students registered and a qualified teacher.

Teachers are required to teach according to Danish regulations.

Classes start in August and take place at Bakkegårdsskolen on Saturdays.

Applications are open from March 3, 2025 and will close again on April 3, 2025.

The application must be sent to School Enrollment via Digital Post. Write “School Enrollment/Mother Tongue Language Education” in the subject line.

Application for mother tongue teaching