Turku Teacher Training School
Turku Teacher Training School (Turun normaalikoulu) is a highly modern and diverse school where 1,280 people work and study on a daily basis. There are approximately 930 pupils and students, of whom 640 are in basic education and 290 in upper secondary education. The school employs around 100 teachers and other staff members, and hosts an average of 250 student teachers completing their teaching practice. In addition to its regular educational activities, the school has several other responsibilities.
Turku Teacher Training School serves as the teacher training school of the University of Turku. Both primary school teacher trainees and subject teacher trainees complete their teaching practice at the school as part of their pedagogical studies. These studies are also connected with research and development in teaching and learning, continuing professional development for teachers, and the export of educational expertise and training abroad.
History of Turku Teacher Training School
The predecessor of Turun normaalikoulu, Käkisalmi 
comprehensive school in Karelia, was established in 1892. During World War II the school was not much in operation and was finally re-established on a governmental decision in Turku, next to the market place. The school was called Turun Yhteislyseo
In 1957 the teacher training school of Turku, Turun normaalilyseo, started to operate in a building of its own in Mestarinkatu. The training of subject teachers started the same year in Norssi.
The tr
aining of class and subject teachers was combined in 1974 and was called Turun normaalikoulu. However, it was not until 1980 they started to operate under the same roof when the building of a new school was completed in Varissuo.
In the 1990’s Norssi turned very multi-cultural when more and more pupils and students were immigrant parents’ children. The International Baccalaureate (IB) school was launched in Norssi in 1991 and teaching in English was expanded to cover grades 1 to 9 as well. In 2003 Turku International School became part of Norssi financed by the town of Turku. TIS mostly follows the Finnish curriculum but the language of instruction is English.
At the beginning of 2017 we were able to move back to our school after a complete renovation which lasted for a year and a half. At present Norssi in Turku is the most international school in the whole of Finland with more than 40 nationalities represented.
Education creates future
