Principal's greetings

Dear Ressu student,

Welcome to the start of the new school year – the 136th academic year in the history of this school  – in Ressun lukio, one of the oldest and most prestigious Finnish upper secondary schools.  We became an authorized IB Diploma school in 2002 and our English-language IB section celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2022. 

Ressun lukio, including both our national section and our IB section, has strong traditions, but at the same time we have always been a modern, progressive and liberal school. In today’s world, knowledge and know-how are more important than ever. You Ressu students have an excellent opportunity to develop your knowledge, thanks to the variety of IB studies on offer. At the same time as you learn facts, you will also learn many skills: for example, how to plan and organize your life.  The IB Study Guide that you are now reading offers you a lot of practical advice for that purpose. 

I know that our students are courageous, talented and open-minded individuals, who can make the most of what our school has to offer. Everyone here will contribute to the school, and to their fellow students’ lives, both during and after their school years. 

Our graduates have succeeded well above the global IB DP average in their studies and have gone on to study in universities throughout the world. In addition to Finnish universities, our graduates' destinations have included many famed European institutions, for example Trinity College, Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial College, King's College and LSE, as well as places further away, such as Harvard, Brown and Yale.

Our school is known for its friendly atmosphere, international spirit and numerous educational development projects. Ressun lukio aims to be a place where students can study, work, succeed and grow. The student council is very actively involved in the school's operation by organizing special days and activities. Ressut ry, our alumni association for old students, supports the school's activities. Our teaching staff consists of committed professionals with varied skills and interests, and we also provide teacher training.

Our school (or more precisely, our national section) was founded in 1891. From its very beginning, Ressu was a pioneer school: we were the first in Helsinki to teach humanistic subjects and modern languages, as opposed to just Latin. Ressu students, all boys in those days, were geared towards careers in trade, industry and government. 

The name of our school has a long history. Our original name was quite long: Helsingin Suomalainen Realilyseo and Ressu - an abbreviation of the final word of the name - was its popular nickname. In 1914, the school changed its name to Helsingin Suomalainen Lyseo. As the fights between Finnish- and Swedish-speakers calmed down, the word "suomalainen" (=Finnish) was dropped from our name, which was further abbreviated to Helsingin Lyseo in 1950.  

When Helsinki adopted the comprehensive school system in 1977, our school was asked to choose a new name based on its location – either Kalevankatu, Kamppi or Lönnrot. However, since our old students launched a massive protest campaign, the school was allowed to retain its old nickname and was then called “Ressun lukio”. Together with the advent of comprehensive school, two major changes occurred: instead of the state, Ressu was now governed by the city of Helsinki, and the old boys’ school became co-educational – a fact which still amazes old students visiting the school. 

Ressun lukio became an authorized IB World School in 2002. The IB Diploma Programme we offer is an internationally acknowledged two-year programme, preceded by a preparatory year.  Our first IB DP class successfully graduated in 2005, and this August we will celebrate the graduation of our 21st IB DP generation. Congratulations, Class of 2025! 

This study guide contains useful information that you will need during this IB school year.  Enjoy your journey of finding your own path! 

ONCE A RESSU STUDENT –  ALWAYS A RESSU STUDENT!

Ari Huovinen

Head principal