New Klettaskóli component to open in Korpa this fall

Renovations underway at Korpuskóli

The decision addresses a severe space shortage at Klettaskóli and aligns with recommendations a working group submitted in 2023. The group included representatives from Klettaskóli staff, the parent association, the school council, Þroskahjálp, the Association of Municipalities in the Capital Area, and parents of students.

Preparations have been underway since the beginning of the year, and construction at Korpuskóli remains on schedule. Work should wrap up before Aug. 1, 2026, with operations set to begin that fall.

Student and recreational activity assignments

Under the current plan, Klettaskóli students will be split between the two buildings for the 2026-2027 school year as follows:

• Grades 1-7 will remain in the current Klettaskóli building.
• Grades 8-10 will move to the new Klettaskóli component in Korpa.

Recreational activities will also undergo reorganization:

• Gulahlíð (grades 1-4) will remain at Vesturhlíð 3 but will relocate into the school building when conditions allow.
• Hekla (grades 5-7) will move from Þorragata into Askja's facilities at Klettaskóli.
• Askja (grades 8-10) will operate in Korpa.

The City Executive Council's approval also calls for grade 7 to join Korpuskóli beginning in fall 2027th

Action required due to growing student numbers

For the 2025-2026 school year, 141 students are enrolled at Klettaskóli, even though the building was originally designed for 80-90 students. Student numbers have grown rapidly, with 41 applications from new students already received ahead of fall 2026.

While 11 students will graduate from grade 10 this spring, total enrollment in grades 1-9 will remain around 130 students. For these reasons, meeting students' needs in the current building requires further action.

New management team

To ensure a smooth transition, a new management team will be established for the Klettaskóli component in Korpa beginning in spring 2026. The team will work closely with Klettaskóli's current leadership and recreational activity staff to guarantee clear communication and thorough preparation for students, parents, and staff.

Alongside work at Klettaskóli, municipalities in the capital area are developing policy on the construction of a new special education school, with a decision expected by late 2026.

More space for Klettaskóli students

Using Korpuskóli for Klettaskóli's grades 8-10 will ease pressure on the school's Suðurhlíð building. Demand for spots at Klettaskóli has far exceeded capacity in recent years, prompting the school to offer enrollment at Húsaskóli last year to Reykjavík students who could not secure a spot. Expanding with the Korpa component enables the enrollment of seven additional students and provides relief for a school that has operated well beyond capacity for years. Hekla's recreational activities, located on Þorragata in recent years, will also move into the school, allowing one large year group to split into more classes. These changes will better accommodate the diverse needs of students while eliminating the need to transport them from school to recreational activities on Þorragata.

Because demand for spots at Klettaskóli still cannot be entirely met, some Reykjavík students with legal residence in the area will receive offers to enroll at Húsaskóli or other available options. This approach, first tested last fall to accommodate children unable to get into Klettaskóli, has worked very well.

The Association of Municipalities in the Capital Area is currently analyzing the future development of special education schools. It's clear that the need for specialized measures will increase in the coming years and decades, and it's important that infrastructure development takes this into account. "The facilities in Korpa have significantly improved what Klettaskóli can offer, and this change also strongly supports the professional work and learning of the children, which we warmly welcome. The goal is for Korpuskóli to become an independent school component starting in fall 2027. Despite these changes, Klettaskóli is still unable to fully meet demand, making it vital to pursue additional solutions — which is why we decided to expand the class at Húsaskóli next fall. I know that the other municipalities have found, or will find, solutions for their students while demand cannot be fully met at Klettaskóli or another special education school," said Steinn Jóhannsson, Director of the Department of Education & Youth.