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Porsgrunn Videregaende Skole

Norway, Porsgrunn

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Norwegian
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 16 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 949
Type Co-educational
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (DP), Dutch Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum, British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE
Taught languages Norwegian, English, German, Spanish, French
Strengths Sport, Visual and Creative Arts, Languages
Clubs Cultural and Language, Social and Hobbies, Leadership and Professional
Stages Secondary School, Senior Secondary School
Introduction

Porsgrunn videregående skole is a public upper secondary school in Norway that operates on Nord and Sør campuses, serving students aged 16 to 18. The school offers curricula including International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, Dutch curricula, Cambridge IGCSE, and a bespoke program. Students can choose study-preparatory options such as IB Norwegian and IB English, and a Pre-IB track, as well as the general Studiespesialisering pathway with elective fagvalg. Specialisations include Arts, design and architecture and Sports Studies, while vocational programs cover hairdressing, floristry, interior and exhibition design; Information Technology and Media Production; Technology and Industrial subjects; and Work and Everyday Life Training (AHT). Kombiløpet provides a combined program. The school houses libraries and a Learning Center on Nord and Sør campuses, with lending and study support; Sør hosts a podcast room and gaming facilities. Exchange programs, a student council, and leadership opportunities complement a focus on student life and progression here.

Avd. Nord: Kjølnes Ring 58, 3918 Porsgrunn; Avd. Sør: Kjølnes Ring 20, 3918 Porsgrunn

The Essentials

Porsgrunn Videregaende Skole has 949 pupils, instruction in English, Norwegian.

Location
Two campuses in Porsgrunn: Avd. Nord at Kjølnes Ring 58, 3918 Porsgrunn, and Avd. Sør at Kjølnes Ring 20, 3918 Porsgrunn. Opening hours are 07:30–15:00.

Stages
The school offers two main tracks: studieforberedende (study-preparatory) and yrkesfaglig (vocational). The study-preparatory programs include Studiespesialisering, International Baccalaureate (IB), and VG1 with internationalization (Pre-IB). The vocational programs include Frisør, blomster, interiør og eksponeringsdesign; Informasjonsteknologi og medieproduksjon; Teknologi- og industrifag. It also offers Kombiløpet and Arbeid- og hverdagslivstrening (AHT).

Type
Public upper secondary school.

Pupil Nationality Mix
The school has a large share of multilingual students.

Additional learning support
Adapted instruction and accommodations are provided, including dyslexia support with assessment and guidance; mathematics support with tutoring and small groups; multilingual learner support with strengthened Norwegian language instruction; second language support; a TPO team coordinates interventions; exam accommodations are available.

Country affiliation
Norway

Religious affiliation
No religious affiliation

School day structure
The school day starts at 08:00 and ends at 15:30. Timetable is available in Visma InSchool. Periods run 08:00–08:45, 08:50–09:35, 09:45–10:30, 10:35–11:20, 11:25–12:10 (lunch/klassens time), 12:10–12:55, 13:00–13:45, 13:55–14:40, and 14:45–15:30. There are five or ten minute breaks after each period; the fifth period may be used for class time or meals.

Bus service
School transport is organized by Telemark County and uses regular public transport (bus, ferry, or train). Electronic applications open around August 1 for the coming school year and decisions apply for that year.
Diving Deeper

Food Options
The school has two canteens, on the North and South campuses, open 07:45–14:50 Monday to Friday. They offer a wide range of food and drinks, including baguettes, wraps, croissants, focaccia, cheese buns, ciabatta, panini and toast, plus a salad bar. The kitchen makes homemade, varied hot meals daily and provides beverages such as coffee, tea, mineral water, juice and smoothies. The canteens are run by trained chefs and function as approved training establishments, hosting apprentices and work placements through AHT and related programs.

Governance and Ownership
Public upper secondary school governed by Telemark County Municipality (Telemark fylkeskommune).
Fees
Application fees

- There is no separate application fee charged to apply for a place at Porsgrunn videregående skole for standard public admissions submitted through the national admissions system (VIGO).

Tuition fees (by year group and term)

- There are no tuition fees for students admitted under the ordinary rights to public upper secondary education; full-time places in the public videregående program are provided without school tuition charges. (This applies to standard Vg1–Vg3 placements.)

Mandatory/regular school charges (by program and year)

- PC lease (mandatory for teaching): All pupils for whom the county organises a loan/lease receive a school PC under the county arrangement. The annual lease charge for the 2026/2027 school year is NOK 1,427 per year; the lease is paid annually and the lease period is three years. An invoice for the annual lease is issued by the county after the digital lease agreement is signed.

- Program-specific materials and consumables (vocational subjects): Students on vocational and practical study programmes (for example hairdressing, culinary, design, workshop/industrial subjects, arts) are responsible for program-specific consumables, tools, protective clothing or specialised personal equipment required to complete practical training. Amounts vary by program and by the specific course requirements; these are treated as separate material or equipment costs rather than tuition. Students who qualify can apply for the national equipment stipend to cover these costs.

- Excursions, workshops and optional activities: Costs for curriculum-related excursions, project trips, special workshops or voluntary extracurricular activities may be charged to participating students or their guardians when those activities incur direct costs. Such charges are assessed per activity and billed as required by the school or external supplier. (These are not tuition charges.)

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Annual items: The PC lease is billed once per school year (annual invoice) for the lease year; payment follows the invoice sent by the county after the signed lease agreement. The three-year lease term determines when a pupil retains the device (after three years of paid lease).

- Program/material charges and activity fees: Material, tool and excursion charges are normally invoiced when the cost is incurred (for example per term or per activity) and may be collected by the school or by external suppliers. Payment terms are set on each invoice issued to the payer; students are expected to meet the invoice payment terms stated on the bill.

- Travel (skoleskyss): Travel entitlement and any subsidised school travel arrangements follow county rules for school transport; eligible pupils may receive travel coverage or need to apply for travel cards according to the county's skoleskyss rules. Application windows and annual decisions for school-transport benefits are administered by the county.

Boarding / accommodation fees (if applicable)

- Porsgrunn videregående skole does not list boarding (internat) as part of its school provision on its school pages (the school operates Avd. Nord and Avd. Sør). Where pupils live away from home (hybel or internat arrangements elsewhere), lodging costs are paid by the pupil/guardian and may be eligible for national borteboerstipend administered through Lånekassen when distance or travel-time criteria are met.

Other costs and one-off charges

- School identity card / student ID: The school issues digital student identity (pocket-ID) arrangements; any cost or administrative handling of ID cards or similar minor items is handled locally.

- Uniforms and work clothes: Where specific clothing is required for a vocational programme (workwear, chef's clothes, safety shoes, hairdressing kit, protective overalls), these are purchased by the pupil and billed at purchase; amounts vary by supplier and programme.

- Examination or certification fees: There is no standard tuition exam fee for ordinary public Vg1–Vg3 study programmes, but fees for specific external tests, retakes, or private candidate services (where applicable) may be charged according to the service provider's rules.

Refunds and cancellations

- Tuition refunds: There is no tuition to refund for standard public places because no tuition is charged for ordinary public Vg1–Vg3 placements.

- PC lease and other billed items: Refunds, cancellations or adjustments for the county-managed PC lease and for program/activity invoices follow the contractual terms set out in the county's lease/invoice documentation; the county issues the invoice after the lease agreement is signed and the invoice follows the stated payment and cancellation terms. For program-specific purchases or external supplier bookings, refunds or cancellation terms are those of the supplier or the specific school agreement.

Fee support and offsets

- Equipment stipend and support: All eligible pupils with youth entitlement can apply to Lånekassen for an equipment (utstyrsstipend) and, where applicable, for borteboer (away-from-home) support; these national grants are intended to cover required equipment, clothing and in some cases housing costs. The national equipment stipend amounts for 2026/2027 fall in the range of approximately NOK 1,437 to NOK 7,353 depending on programme and needs; eligible pupils must apply to Lånekassen.

Payment methods

- Invoicing and payment: County-issued invoices for items such as PC lease or material fees are processed by the county and are payable according to the invoice (invoice will specify payment method). The county issues invoices after required agreements are signed; typical payment methods for municipal/fylkeskommunale invoices include bank transfer with KID (account reference), e-invoice (eFaktura) or other electronic invoice channels used by public bodies. For purchases from external suppliers (tools, uniforms, excursions), standard supplier payment methods (card, bank transfer or the supplier's invoicing terms) apply.


(If you need a short summary line for a database field: "No application fee; no tuition for standard public Vg1–Vg3 places. Mandatory annual PC lease: NOK 1,427 (2026/27). Program-specific materials, excursions and work clothes billed separately; equipment stipend available from Lånekassen.")
Academics

Porsgrunn Videregaende Skole teaches IB (DP), Dutch Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum, British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE for students aged 16 to 18.

Curriculum
The school offers study programs including study-preparatory options (IB Norwegian, IB English, and IB with Pre-IB). The general studies pathway is Studiespesialisering, with fagvalg options. Arts, design and architecture and Sports Studies are available as study specializations. Vocational programs include Hairdressing, floristry, interior and exhibition design; Information Technology and Media Production; Technology and Industrial subjects; and Work and Everyday Life Training (AHT). Kombiløpet is offered as a combined program. Brochures describing each study program are available on the program pages .
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school integrates social-emotional learning as a cross-disciplinary health and life-skills theme to promote students' mental and physical wellbeing and support responsible life choices. The aim is to provide students with competencies to navigate school, relationships, and personal development. A social-pedagogical advisor collaborates with the tutor and Elevtjenesten to support students' social and emotional growth. The school emphasizes a safe, inclusive climate and proactive work to support wellbeing and positive self-image. Students can receive guidance through Elevtjenesten and conversations with the social-pedagogical advisor when needed.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school provides adapted education and accommodations based on each learner's abilities and prerequisites. It conducts assessments and offers guidance in learning strategies and study techniques. The school aims to be dyslexia-friendly by offering mapping, guidance, and support for learners with reading and writing difficulties, with dedicated staff: Gyri Grønmark (Nord) and Turid Melby Aas (Sør). There is targeted Mathematics support with a resource person (Julianne Island) and small mathematics groups as organizational accommodations. For multilingual learners, the school systematically assesses and, if needed, makes decisions about special language instruction, including strengthened Norwegian instruction at all levels; resource personnel include Daniela Feistritzer (Sør) and Viviana Martinez (Nord). There is also attention to second-language learning (2. fremmedspråk) with dedicated resources such as Julia Kleven.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school has a large share of multilingual students. Students are systematically assessed, and decisions about special language instruction are made when needed, including strengthened Norwegian language instruction at all grade levels. Resource staff for multilingual support include Daniela Feistritzer (Sør) and Viviana Martinez (Nord). For second-language learning, Julia Kleven provides additional language support. The school uses these supports to help students integrate academically and develop language skills across grade levels.

Mental Wellbeing
Elevtjenester is oriented to preventing problems and helping students cope with life's ups and downs, supporting good choices, and ensuring a safe and positive school environment and social and academic development. Elevtjenesten aims to work more directly in classrooms in collaboration with teachers, professional staff, and department leaders to provide timely support. The Health Service (helsesykepleier) offers a low-threshold service with open doors, fixed hours, and free access; there is no absence from class required to seek help. Helsesykepleier provides confidential support and collaborates with the school and external services as needed, with consent. The social-pedagogical counselor supports students on school and personal issues and works with Elevtjenesten to promote well-being and early intervention.

Safeguarding
The helsesykepleier has confidentiality and collaborates with the school and external agencies to provide the necessary help, with the student's consent. The helsesykepleier can facilitate referrals to external services when appropriate or desired. The social-pedagogical counselor and Elevtjenester contribute to safeguarding by promoting a safe, supportive school climate and by supporting students who encounter difficulties at school or in personal life. Elevtjenester coordinates with teachers and other staff to monitor well-being and respond to safeguarding concerns. The school maintains procedures and staff ready to assist with safeguarding issues in a confidential and student-centered manner.
Parent Experience

Community
Student participation is central at Porsgrunn videregående skole through the Student Council (Elevråd) and the school's joint bodies the Cooperation Committee (SU) and the School Environment Committee (SMU). Elevrådet is a legally mandated body for student involvement; members are elected at the start of each school year, with leadership including a Chair and a Secretary. SU and SMU are elected for the current school year to oversee student involvement and the school environment, with listed leadership and grade representatives. Agendas and minutes from SU/SMU meetings are published on the site (examples include meeting items dated 27 April 2026, 23 February 2026, 8 December 2025, 20 October 2025, 6 May 2025, 18 March 2025, and 17 December 2024). The school's facilities supporting community life include a canteen (Kantine), a library (Bibliotek), and a writing center (Skrivesenteret).

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Skole-hjem-samarbeid provides parent involvement opportunities. VIS for foresatte is not activated yet and will be announced on the school's channels when ready. Guardians can access information and update contact information; for students under 18, guardian contact details are stored in Visma InSchool, while students over 18 must fill out a form; the student must log in to register guardians' contact information, using an electronic ID such as MinID or BankID. Guidance and steps for obtaining electronic ID are provided.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Porsgrunn videregående skole operates on two campuses, Nord and Sør. The school has two libraries and a dedicated learning center, both accessible to students and staff. The Nord library is located in the building's central area on the second floor, while the Sør learning center is in room H102. The libraries offer a broad collection of fiction, non-fiction and films, and textbooks and dictionaries can be borrowed. The Sør site includes gaming machines, a podcast room and games that can be used for teaching or during free time. The school also runs a canteen on both campuses, which serves a variety of sandwiches, salads, hot meals and beverages and functions as a social hub for students.

Academic Facilities
The school provides two libraries and a learning center (Læringssenter) on both Nord and Sør campuses for study and research. The Nord library is in the building's middle on the second floor; the Sør learning center is located in room H102. The libraries offer fiction, non-fiction and films, and textbooks and dictionaries can be borrowed; if a requested book is not in the collection, staff help obtain it. The Learning Center and Writing Center (Skrivesenteret) support study skills, source evaluation and citation, and there is a reservation system for library resources.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Extracurricular resources are available through the libraries, including board games, films, gaming, literature, online resources and sources, podcasts and programming. The Sør campus provides gaming machines and a podcast room for use in teaching or leisure, enabling students to engage in creative activities beyond standard classes.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Cultural & Language
Utvekslingsår i utlandet offers students the opportunity to complete a year abroad in Vg2 or Vg3. The county promotes internationalization across vocational and study programs and aims to recognize foreign studies as equivalent where possible. Students must obtain pre-approval from their home school before applying and apply through approved exchange organizations. During the exchange year, changes to the plan should be discussed with the Norwegian school, and upon return the foreign training must be documented to count toward progression.

Social & Hobbies
Elevråd (Student Council) is a legally mandated body for student participation. Members are elected at the start of the school year in August, with a chair and deputy elected by the Elevråd. The Elevråd operates under its own bylaws, which describe composition, posts, and operation. The Russ committee (Russestyret) coordinates the russefeiring for graduating students and has a multi‑role leadership team.

Leadership & Professional
Student leadership is provided through Elevråd (Student Council) and SU/SMU, with formal roles and by-laws guiding operation. The Elevråd leadership is elected at the annual meeting, and SU/SMU arrange representation and school life discussions. The Russ committee offers leadership and project‑management experience by organizing the russefeiring for graduating students.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Idrettsfag (Sports) is offered as a study program focusing on sport and physical activity. Students have access to a Kantine (cafeteria) for meals and breaks, a Bibliotek (library), and a Skrivesenter (writing center) regardless of study direction.
Languages

Language Provision
English is the language of instruction for the IB Diploma Programme. The Diploma Programme uses English as the working language in all subjects. All textbooks, assignments and exams are in English, with Norwegian or foreign-language materials as exceptions. Pre-IB includes some English-taught classes.

Bilingual Teaching
The school offers bilingual exposure within the IB pathway. The Diploma Programme (Vg2–Vg3) is taught in English. Pre-IB (Vg1 med internasjonalisering) includes some classes taught in English. This enables study in an international framework with English-language instruction for IB courses.
Admissions

Admissions
1) Porsgrunn Videregående Skole offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) at Vg2 and Vg3, with Pre-IB available at Vg1. The Diploma Programme has an international focus and is taught in English. Admission is open to students regardless of how VG1 was completed, provided entry requirements and English proficiency are met. 2) Applications to the IB DP must be submitted through Vigo by March 1. There are no fees for the IB DP at PVS. All students must apply through Vigo each year; if applying from abroad or outside Vigo, the required paperwork must be submitted as part of the application. 3) The curriculum uses six subject groups; students select six subjects with at least three at Higher Level and three at Standard Level. A Subject Choice Form must be completed and handed to the IB coordinator by March 1. The language of instruction is English and assessment includes Internal Assessments. 4) Admission depends on availability and meeting admission procedures, including residency in Norway and a Telemark address. Priority goes to students with strong prior academic records and to students who do not speak Norwegian fluently. Necessary qualifications include the first year of Norwegian Upper Secondary general studies, IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) year 5, English proficiency, and mathematics proficiency, with an entrance examination considered if needed. 5) The IB DP prepares students well for higher education, with academic instruction in English, emphasis on independent research and the core components Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, and Creativity, Activity and Service; graduates are prepared for studies at Norwegian and international universities.
School Events
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