At Kolding Gymnasium, we are introducing a new rhythm to everyday life: four regular days and one day for immersion, experiences, and collaboration outside the classroom. We call it 4+1. It gives you more flexibility, better balance, and the opportunity to learn in new ways.
“Jeg synes, det er rart, at jeg kan prioritere min egen tid og selv vurdere, hvornår jeg vil lave mine ting, så længe jeg bare har det klar til næste modul.”
“Personally, I think it's good to be able to immerse yourself in one subject and manage your own time. It makes school life more interesting, less monotonous and repetitive. It's something new, and it motivates and inspires.”
"It's nice to have a day now and then where you can get some peace and quiet. You still have to work, but it's more relaxed. It stops the stress."
“A long week feels shorter. You don't just wait for Friday.”
“These are good days, they give you freedom, they give you something to look forward to compared to ordinary days.”
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creates a balance between professionalism, freedom, and communityYou learn effectively while having control over your time and activities. -
Supports well-being and motivationFocusing on your well-being and engagement ensures that learning is meaningful and realistic. -
Based on student preferences and current educational researchAn evidence-based approach to modern high school education.
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Make high school more relevant and meaningfulTeaching is linked to real-life issues and modern learning methods. -
Have a varied school weekThe combination of regular teaching, focus days, and flexible days makes learning dynamic and engaging. -
Strengthens readiness for studyYou will develop skills for independent work and collaboration.
Look forward to 4+1!
flexibility in everyday life
The other Wednesdays will be FlexDays, where you have the opportunity to plan and manage your own time. For example, you can work hard on Monday evening and spend Wednesday morning training, doing errands, or something else entirely.
FlexDays give you freedom with responsibility. The teaching activities are asynchronous, which means they do not necessarily have to be completed on Wednesdays. They will include various activities that you can do before and after regular classes. This way, FlexDays allow you to prepare for upcoming classes while also reviewing and repeating what you have already learned.
But FlexDays are not days off. They are an opportunity to show that you can take responsibility for your own learning. You must submit a specific product or document your work – and you will be marked absent if you do not do so.
Overall, FlexDays give you balance in a busy everyday life – and prepare you for student life and adult life after Kolding Gymnasium. You can read more about FlexDays and see examples of specific FlexDays here.
Eleverne fortæller om 4+1
Vores elever har været igennem et prøveforløb på en måned, hvor de har afprøvet 4+1-konceptet. Se Helal, Silke og Sara i den første video, hvor de deler deres erfaringer, og Victor og Karoline i den anden video, der fortæller, hvad de har fået ud af forløbet.
The road to 4+1
At KG, we have long been considering rethinking our approach to teaching. The first steps were taken through a large regionally supported well-being project, which we started in 2020, and in 2024 it really took off when we formulated the school's vision for 2030.
With this as a starting point, the entire school, both students and staff, embarked on a major development project, and it is the ideas and wishes from this project that have led to the development of 4+1. Students, staff, and researchers called for more flexibility in everyday life and more realistic teaching, and this is precisely what 4+1 is all about.
The road has not been straight, but the work has been thorough. On the path, you can read more about the school's journey to 4+1.
"It's great to be able to work at your own pace."
“4+1 makes school life more interesting and less monotonous.”
“It's fun to work with your friends outside of school. It was enjoyable, and we learned something at the same time.”
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
Here we have compiled the answers to some of the questionswe most frequently encounter.
Here we have compiled the answers to some of the questionswe most frequently encounter.
4+1 is a new structure for the school week, where students have four regular school days and one day where teaching takes place in a different way. This day alternates between Focus Days and Flex Days. With 4+1, students have better opportunities for immersion, realistic teaching and greater flexibility in their everyday lives.
We asked our students what they think the high school of the future should look like. They want more flexibility and teaching that is closely linked to real life. Research points to the same thing: variety, immersion, and practical relevance strengthen motivation and student learning. 4+1 provides space for just that.
FlexDays are Wednesdays when students work independently on assignments and activities. The work does not have to be done at school—it can be done at home or elsewhere, and at the time of day that suits each student best. FlexDays give students the freedom to manage their own time and the opportunity to learn in new ways.
Focus Days are Wednesdays when students immerse themselves in a subject together with their teachers. There is time for research, excursions, and practical activities—both at school and out in the real world. Focus Days can also involve collaboration with local businesses, cultural institutions, and educational institutions, allowing students to encounter the subject in practice.
FlexDays are based on trust and responsibility. Students are given the freedom to plan their own day – but this also means that they have a clear responsibility to complete the tasks that are required of them.
The activities at FlexDays can take many forms, but what they all have in common is that you can always see the results of the work – for example, in assignments, products, or preparation for class. This means that students are still responsible for their efforts, and they are marked absent if they do not meet the academic requirements.
If a student repeatedly fails to meet the agreements, they must attend the school's FlexCafé on FlexDays, where teachers can provide support and assistance.
You could say that 4+1 is based on a kind of contract: freedom with responsibility. When you choose Kolding Gymnasium, you commit to taking your learning seriously – even outside of school.
With FlexDays, students actively work in a new way. Many find that it is easier for them to immerse themselves, take initiative, and really absorb the material when they can control the pace and form themselves.
FlexDays also provide an opportunity to engage in activities that are not possible in regular classes, which can be motivating.
When students have familiarized themselves with the material before regular classes begin, teaching becomes more dynamic. This frees up time for dialogue, reflection, and academic immersion.
Experience shows that students learn more this way because they work more independently, are more engaged, and get more out of the class community—both academically and socially.
The activities at FlexDagen are not just ordinary homework. FlexDagen is an integral part of teaching, where the teacher gives clear instructions and learning objectives, and where there is an opportunity to do something different than what you can do in the classroom.
If you need help or sparring during Flex Days, you can use the Flex Café. It is open during Flex Days, where competent teachers are ready to support and help students with their assignments if something is difficult. The school is, of course, also open to students who want to meet in familiar surroundings and work together with others.
Yes, of course. We follow all applicable rules. According to the Ministry of Children and Education, up to 10% of teaching can be converted to virtual, asynchronous teaching.
FlexDays fall within this framework and are fully in line with the legislative aim of creating more flexible and varied forms of learning.
No – 4+1 is not about sleeping longer, but about learning smarter. FlexDays require planning and independence, but in return you get the freedom to structure your day to suit your rhythm.
Some start early, others later—the important thing is that you take responsibility for getting the work done.