The years that a child attends primary school are an important formative period for him or her as an individual and a member of society. The school is intended to give students the opportunity to acquire knowledge, skills and abilities that will prepare them for study after primary school and throughout life. Primary school lays the foundation for the participation of individuals in a democratic society and cultivates the human values ​​that will support their all-round development, promote awareness of Icelandic culture and respect for the cultures of other nations.

According to Act No. 91/2008 on compulsory school, compulsory school is a 10-year school. It is generally assumed that students begin their studies in the year they turn six. However, the law allows students to start school earlier or later and also to finish it earlier. The vast majority of students begin compulsory school at the age of six and finish it at the age of sixteen. Students automatically move between grades from 1st to 10th grade regardless of academic performance or other status. In the Act on Compulsory School, No. 91/2008, the goal of compulsory school is defined in Article 2.

Article 2 Objectives

The role of primary schools, in cooperation with families, is to promote the all-round development of all students and their participation in a democratic society that is constantly evolving. The working methods of primary schools shall be shaped by tolerance and love, the Christian heritage of Icelandic culture, equality, democratic cooperation, responsibility, care, reconciliation and respect for human values. Primary schools shall also strive to conduct their work in the fullest possible accordance with the status and needs of students and promote the all-round development, welfare and education of each individual.

Primary school shall promote a broad outlook among students and strengthen their skills in the Icelandic language, their understanding of Icelandic society, its history and characteristics, the plight of people and the individual’s responsibilities to society, the environment and the outside world. Students shall be given the opportunity to use their creativity and to acquire knowledge and skills in a continuous effort towards education and development. School work shall lay the foundation for students’ initiative and independent thinking and train their ability to collaborate with others.

A primary school shall promote good cooperation between home and school with the aim of ensuring successful school work, general welfare and safety of students.

The objectives section of the Act shows that the objectives of school work cover a wide range of aspects. Many of these aspects transcend individual subjects and areas of study in compulsory schools. This means that it is the responsibility of each school to determine how they can best be found in the students’ subjects and work methods. The emphasis is equally on the school’s operating methods and the content of the curriculum, and these two main strands must form an integral whole in school work. It is important that each school explains in the school curriculum how these objectives will be achieved. The welfare of children is a fundamental aspect of the work of compulsory schools, in cooperation with families and a prerequisite for learning. Health and healthy lifestyles are fundamental aspects of the welfare of students. Compulsory school takes over from kindergarten and lays the foundation for continued learning and life in a sustainable society. The school is the workplace of students for ten years during an important period of their development and formation. Compulsory school is therefore an important part of the individual’s journey towards comprehensive development and general education. In elementary school, conditions need to be created for students so that they can enjoy their childhood and develop self-confidence and social skills, activate their creativity, and cultivate an understanding of human values.

Municipalities are primarily responsible for schooling and the implementation of the Compulsory Education Act. Compulsory education is compulsory and each municipality is obliged to provide schooling for all children aged 6–16 who are legally resident there. This also applies to children who have been placed in foster care with foster parents who are legally resident in the municipality. The Compulsory Education Act stipulates that the school year shall last at least nine months and that students shall have a minimum of 180 school days per year.

Primary schools are obliged to educate all children effectively. By law, all students have the right to appropriate education in primary schools, including academic, vocational and artistic education, and municipalities are obliged to provide students with appropriate learning opportunities regardless of their physical and mental abilities, social and emotional condition or language development. This applies to all children, disabled and non-disabled, chronically ill, gifted and mentally retarded, children from remote areas and children from minority groups that stand out in terms of language, ethnicity or culture.

Parents are responsible for enrolling their children in primary school and ensuring that they attend school. Parents have the right to choose a primary school within the municipality for their children according to the municipality’s rules. The municipality’s school committee monitors that all school-age children receive compulsory education. There are also operating primary schools that are recognized by the Minister of Education and Culture but are run by parties other than municipalities. These schools receive financial support from municipalities and parents can also apply for school placement for their children there, according to the rules of the relevant municipalities.

Clear responsibilities, rights and obligations of children and parents contribute to increased student well-being. Therefore, emphasis should be placed on parental participation in school activities and their good relationships with the school board, teachers and the school community. Increased parental rights are accompanied by increased responsibility, which occurs through active parental participation and a quality process for selecting representatives for the school council, as well as an active flow of information and their consultation with other parents.

The Act on Compulsory Schools gives municipalities and schools considerable scope and independence to organize education in accordance with local needs and circumstances, but the main policy, which is expressed in the Act and the National Curriculum Guide, is that all students have the opportunity to study in their home school without discrimination. The Act also covers independently run compulsory schools, special schools and special needs schools, experimental schools at the compulsory school level and recognized education at the compulsory school level, such as homeschooling, distance learning or distributed learning.