It’s no ordinary October morning at Sigtuna School (SSHL). Some students are absent; they are in custody on probable cause on suspicion of aggravated sexual assault, aggravated unlawful coercion, unlawful threats and aggravated assault - crimes said to have been committed at the school in early October.
"Tradition can never be used as an excuse for abusive behaviour. Students who speak out about abuse should know that they have the school’s full support," said Sofia Kinberg, CEO and head of school at SSHL, in a press release on Sunday.
“Tense atmosphere”
Few students want to talk to journalists. Many say they don’t know much.
"The atmosphere is a bit tense. We are also confused about what has happened," says a student.
Another describes the information as strange. Most of the school’s nearly 600 students are so-called day students, who do not live at the boarding school.
"We don’t really know anything," he says.
He says the class was supposed to have a test last Friday, but it was cancelled so that the students could instead discuss what happened.
It’s sad that the school is getting a bad reputation, but we try not to think too much about it and just focus on our education and learning.
As always, when information is limited, rumours begin to circulate.
"We speculate, but we don’t want to say anything outside school," says another student.
“Risk of a culture of silence”
In the city centre, reactions are mixed. Some have the impression that the incident is being exaggerated because of the mystique and myth-making surrounding boarding schools. Others are surprised.
I really thought they had got over it, says Ludvig Harryzon.
He works at an outdoor shop with his colleague Julia Näsström. They both attended Sigtuna School and have fond memories of it.
Ludvig Harryzon says there was a clear pecking order between older and younger students in the boarding section at the time. Many younger students thought it was okay - they knew they would enjoy the same privileges when they got older.
They thought it was appropriate.
Julia Näsström, who attended the school later, agrees.
But the worst thing I’ve heard is that someone had to go and buy sweets for the older students at the Ica down here, she says.
Ludvig Harryzon says an acquaintance who works at the school described it as positive that someone had dared to speak out when things had gone too far.
Because it’s so easy for a culture of silence to develop in these contexts.
Sigtuna School of Humanities (SSHL) has both day students, who do not live at the school, and boarding students.
Just under 600 students attend the school, including 220 boarding students. The school offers upper secondary programmes in social sciences, natural sciences and economics. It also offers international IB programmes and the option of studying Year 9 in English.
The school is considered one of Sweden’s elite schools. Its former students include King Carl XVI Gustaf, Olof Palme and several members of the Wallenberg family.