The Private Independant Schools have been part of a 150-years-old tradition in Denmark. This type of school ensures that parents with a certain outlook on life can participate in the decision-making and retain the right to choose between different teachers, types of classes and lessons. 

The compulsory school attendance was introduced in Denmark in 1814, which dictated mandatory education for every child in Denmark. However, in the constitution of 1849, it was emphasized that everyone had the right to live in agreement with their own view of life and religious beliefs. For that very reason, the Private Independant Schools-idea was introduced. This made it possible for parents to select a school that was supportive of their view of life and traditions. 

In 1855, Paragraph 76 was added to the constitution, which made sure that parents could open independent schools with contribution from the state. Here, the parents could have a say in the professional background of the teachers, the main focus of the subjects in school as well as the curriculum. 

However, the independent schools had to follow some rules. First of all, the schools had to be approved by the Department of Education. Second, they had to follow some guidelines regarding the curriculum, since every student should be able to pass certain obligatory classes. 

The idea of an independent school relates back to N. F. S. Grundtvig and Chresten Kold. They both had each their views on how the school system in Denmark should be reformated. They wanted the parents and students to have more freedom and a voice in the decision-making.

In 2016, the number of independent schools and private primary schools were close to a third of the number of state schools. Among those schools are Jewish, Catholic, other Christian and Muslim independent schools. The German minority in Southern Jutland even have their own schools. The idea of political independent schools never really stucked in Denmark.