Send a complaint to Statsforvalteren
If the school has not put suitable measures in place to stop the bullying one week after you have notified them, you have a right of complaint to Statsforvalteren.
Statsforvalteren has long been the appeal body in bullying cases, but before the change in the law in 2017 it was, in our experience, rare for families to get good help. Since the change in the law we have seen a number of improvements at Statsforvalteren.
There are large differences in expertise between the counties, but in general we see that complaint cases are dealt with thoroughly, that families have their complaints upheld in the majority of cases, and that many experience Statsforvalteren as a support.
Statsforvalteren can be an ally
Do seek advice from your Statsforvalteren office, both when it comes to cooperation with the school and to any complaint case. Some case officers, for example, have informal conversations with the school and help good measures fall into place more quickly.
Processing time
Statsforvalteren is not subject to any requirement on processing time, and the time varies a great deal. If the case drags on, you can ask the case officer to order the school to put temporary measures in place, so that the child is made safe while the case is being finalised.
Families have their complaints upheld
The family has its complaint upheld in the great majority of cases.
Update (2026): This has become even clearer. According to the government’s expert memorandum from May 2025, Statsforvalteren concludes that the school has breached aktivitetsplikten in about 95 per cent of the cases reported (the government’s expert memorandum on the school environment, May 2025). The threshold for reporting is not meant to be high — and the figures show that the families who report are usually right.
What powers does Statsforvalteren have?
Statsforvalteren can order the school to put measures in place. Where conditions are censurable, they can impose a tvangsmulkt (a coercive fine) on the school’s owner. This rule is new, and as of the summer of 2018 only one municipality has been given a tvangsmulkt.
Update (2026): Tvangsmulkt has been carried over into the current rules. Statsforvalteren can order the school owner to put the matter right and set a tvangsmulkt — as a lump sum or as daily fines that run until the order has been complied with. The appeal body for Statsforvalteren’s decisions is Utdanningsdirektoratet (the Directorate for Education and Training). (Source: Udir’s circular on the school environment.) Several municipalities have been threatened with a fine if conditions do not improve, which appears to have speeded up finding a solution in the bullying cases.
What if the improvement was temporary?
Some families find that cooperation with the school improves and that the bullying decreases, or stops, after their complaint is upheld by Statsforvalteren. Sometimes the solution is not lasting. If the bullying flares up again and/or cooperation with the school becomes difficult, you can send a new complaint to Statsforvalteren.
What if you disagree with Statsforvalteren’s decision?
If you are not satisfied with Statsforvalteren’s decision, the family can appeal the decision to Utdanningsdirektoratet. This possibility of appeal is new, and in the few complaint cases we know of, the processing time has been long.
If your complaint was not upheld by Statsforvalteren, but is upheld by Utdanningsdirektoratet, it is important to note that this can give a right to have any legal costs covered, such as expenses for a lawyer.
In the event of procedural errors by Statsforvalteren
In the event of procedural errors by Statsforvalteren, the family can complain to Sivilombudsmannen (the Parliamentary Ombudsman). The right of complaint should be stated in the reply letter from Statsforvalteren.