Middle school grading ‑ opportunities and threats

Few areas in Swedish schools have been as controversial in recent years as grades and their importance for students' knowledge development and well-being. Despite earlier fairly harsh criticism from researchers, the trend in Sweden has been for grades to be set at lower and lower ages. At the same time, it should be emphasized that there are many examples from research and proven experience that grades can have a positive effect on students' educational development.

All pupils in Swedish compulsory schools currently receive grades from grade 6, as opposed to grade 8 previously. Following an amendment to the Education Act, it has been possible since the 2021-22 academic year for schools, following notification to the Swedish National Agency for Education, to introduce grades as early as grade 4. One of the few municipal schools in Sweden that has decided to make use of this possibility is Hellbergsskolan in Sundsvall municipality. Only a very limited amount of research has been done in Sweden on what grading at an early age means from a number of different aspects. The previous research has mainly been conducted on older children, and the results are not necessarily applicable to children at earlier ages. 

This project ultimately aims to increase the understanding of students', teachers', student health teams', principals' and guardians' views on the importance of grades for students' learning and development in middle school. Perceptions of the function of grades as tools for information, control, motivation and discipline are studied together with the view of what early grades mean for students' health. Mid Sweden University's contribution in pr