Sweden's school chains (koncerner) are central to the ongoing school debate. But what about grade inflation — the gap between national test results and final grades? We have analysed 16 chains with at least 3 primary schools with grade data, and compared their inflation scores.
The inflation score compares the average grade point per subject with the national test average — both on the 0–20 scale. A positive value means final grades systematically exceed test results.
Independent vs municipal — overall picture
Independent schools
0.1
Avg inflation score
450 schools
Municipal schools
0.0
Avg inflation score
1066 schools
The difference of 0.1 grade points gives an overall picture, but the variation within chains and school types is considerably larger. Let us look at the individual chains.
Chains with the highest grade inflation
| # | Chain | Schools | Avg inflation | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JENSEN group AB | 12 | 1.0 | 0.8 |
| 2 | Almwik Holding AB | 5 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| 3 | Gen Futura AB | 3 | 0.9 | 0.9 |
| 4 | TED International Holding AB | 6 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| 5 | DIBBER AS | 4 | 0.6 | 0.4 |
| 6 | Frida Utbildning AB | 6 | 0.5 | -0.3 |
| 7 | Tisenhult-gruppen AB | 5 | 0.5 | 0.3 |
| 8 | Magnora Aktiebolag | 28 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| 9 | Watma Group AB | 7 | 0.4 | 0.3 |
| 10 | DeMina Holding AB | 17 | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| 11 | Edukatus Alliance Holding AB | 10 | 0.3 | 0.5 |
| 12 | AcadeMedia AB | 57 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| 13 | Internationella Engelska Skolan i Sverige Holdings AB | 43 | -0.1 | -0.0 |
| 14 | BINA HOLDING AB | 3 | -0.2 | -0.0 |
| 15 | A.S. Febo AB | 4 | -0.3 | -0.2 |
These 15 chains have the highest average inflation score among their schools. A high score does not necessarily mean deliberate manipulation — it may reflect pedagogical profiles, pupil selection or local conditions.
Chains with the lowest grade inflation
| # | Chain | Schools | Avg inflation | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cedergrenska AB | 4 | -0.9 | -0.9 |
| 2 | A.S. Febo AB | 4 | -0.3 | -0.2 |
| 3 | BINA HOLDING AB | 3 | -0.2 | -0.0 |
| 4 | Internationella Engelska Skolan i Sverige Holdings AB | 43 | -0.1 | -0.0 |
| 5 | AcadeMedia AB | 57 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| 6 | DeMina Holding AB | 17 | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| 7 | Edukatus Alliance Holding AB | 10 | 0.3 | 0.5 |
| 8 | Watma Group AB | 7 | 0.4 | 0.3 |
| 9 | Frida Utbildning AB | 6 | 0.5 | -0.3 |
| 10 | Tisenhult-gruppen AB | 5 | 0.5 | 0.3 |
Chains with low or negative inflation scores award grades close to or below test results. A negative value may indicate a restrictive grading culture, but can also be because the school has pupils who perform better on national tests than on ongoing assessments.
What does the data say?
Grade inflation exists across the entire school system — in both independent and municipal schools. The spread among chains shows that school type alone does not explain the differences. Individual chains may have a clear profile, but within each chain there are schools that deviate in both directions.
The data should be seen as a starting point for further investigation, not as conclusive evidence. See the full grade inflation analysis for a broader review of all schools.
Cite this analysis
Skolkoll (2026). School chains and grade inflation 2026. skolkoll.se/en/analyses/koncerner-betygsinflation/. Retrieved 2026-04-13.