Odense’s controversial emergency school remains empty after one year

A dedicated facility in Odense intended to temporarily remove violent students from their schools has received no pupils since opening a year ago, Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR) reports.

The so-called *akutskole*—a physical timeout centre in the Bellinge district—was established following a series of incidents at Agedrup School, where groups of students threatened and harassed classmates, prompting over 100 parents to raise alarms. The facility was designed to house students for up to 15 days while providing intensive socio-educational support.

Despite initial backing from parents and then-Education Minister Mattias Tesfaye, the physical site has remained unused. Odense’s children and youth councillor, Brian Dybro of the Socialist People’s Party, stated the city’s priority was support over punishment. “The idea that children do harm and must be punished—that fundamental view of children is one I disagree with,” Dybro told DR. “The most important thing is that children get help.”

Instead of using the Bellinge facility, schools have relied on a mobile support team—comprising pedagogical consultants, psychologists, and a social counsellor—which has intervened 16 times in the past year. The team assists students, schools, and surrounding networks on-site, a model Dybro called a success. “We’ve helped before problems grew so large that a physical emergency facility became necessary,” he said.

Seden School, which has hosted the mobile team twice, confirmed its effectiveness. Headteacher Marianne Bernstorff Justesen said external expertise improved wellbeing for individual students and groups, but added: “We chose to address issues where they arise. Putting out the fire where it starts—that’s what we believe is right.”

The combined timeout programme, including both the unused facility and the mobile team, costs 5.7 million kroner annually. Preparing the Bellinge site cost nearly 200,000 kroner.