Many medieval towns had schools. They were run by the church and therefore lay near the church itself. Only boys were admitted. Learned priests or special schoolmasters taught at the schools.
Only the sons of noblemen and citizens could attend school. If they were from the country-side, they could live at the school, or with a friend.
The schoolboys had long days. They all sat in the same classroom, where the older boys were expected to teach the younger ones. The teachers spent most time teaching the oldest pupils. They wrote on wax boards, slates, with special slate-pencils made by bone or horn. If a pupil made a mistake, the teacher slapped him on the fingers with a thin and narrow piece of wood.
Most of the boys who went to school later became priests. Therefore, they received an education which would be useful in their future careers. Other boys went to school to learn how to read, write and to do some maths. When they finished school they started their training. Perhaps they would later become craftsmen or merchants.
Some boys went on to a university abroad. Paris, Bologna and Prague were universities where many young men from the Nordic countries studied. After completing their studies they returned with new knowledge and experience which would be useful in their professions.
The girls were not totally shut out from being educated. Some girls received a little education at home or at a nunnery.