New reports allege entrenched abuse at Sigtuna boarding school

Sweden’s Schools Inspectorate has received new complaints alleging mistreatment at Sigtuna Humanistiska Läroverket, a boarding school in Sigtuna, after suspected abuse cases came to light, SVT reports. The authority is considering a new inspection.

The complaints describe systematic violence, a culture of silence and younger students being exploited by older ones. Some allege that students and parents are afraid to speak out.

The school was inspected by the authority this summer and met its requirements for student safety work. However, that inspection did not focus on the boarding houses.

Since a police operation last week, the Inspectorate has received several new reports. Regional director Agneta Broberg said the incident may have prompted people who had witnessed or experienced problems to come forward, giving the authority information to assess.

SVT has reviewed around a dozen accounts sent to the Child and Pupil Ombudsman, part of the Inspectorate. Several were submitted anonymously and are said to have come from students and parents.

One student described a strong culture of silence, saying many students were afraid to tell their parents or school staff about rules, punishments and how older students treated younger ones. A parent asked the authority to handle their complaint carefully, fearing consequences for their child if their identity became known.

One parent described the suspected abuse as “the tip of the iceberg”, saying it was not a matter of isolated incidents or initiation rituals that had gone too far, but of traditions passed down between year groups.

Other accounts allege that older students subjected some pupils to prolonged exclusion, with others forbidden to speak to or spend time with them. One report about the boys’ boarding house alleges that methods were used to create fear, submission and psychological breakdown among younger students.

Parents have urged the Inspectorate to take action. The school’s chief executive and head, Sofia Kinberg, previously said students who report mistreatment should know they have the school’s full support, and that their safety was its highest priority. SVT said it had sought comment from the school leadership.