When families connect with Simone from Our Year in Bali about relocating to Bali — whether for a few months or a long-term move — one of the biggest questions is always education.
Where will our children thrive?
Will they feel supported?
Will they love learning here?
Choosing a school is rarely just about academics. It’s about environment, values, emotional well-being, and whether a child feels seen and supported in a completely new country. That’s why, at Our Year in Bali, we spend time getting to know the people behind the schools — not just the brochures or curriculum frameworks.
Recently, Simone sat down with Candice, co-founder of Marigold Community Learning, to hear the full story behind the school — how it began, what shaped its philosophy, and why it resonates with so many international families in Bali.
What unfolded was more than a conversation about education. It was a story about motherhood, bold decisions, community, and building something meaningful from the ground up.
If you’d like to watch the full interview and hear directly from Candice, you can view the complete conversation on our YouTube channel.
From Hospitality to Education
Candice’s Bali journey began in 2012 during what was meant to be a honeymoon visit. An unexpected opportunity led her and her husband to invest in a restaurant in Canggu. At the time, they were living in Australia and had just started their family.
In 2014, instead of signing a mortgage on the Sunshine Coast, they made a bold decision; they relocated to Bali with their 11-month-old daughter. Over the next decade, their hospitality business expanded significantly. They built a life in Bali, welcomed their second child through a home birth in Canggu, and navigated the challenges of COVID while continuing to support their large local team.
Eventually, they exited the business. But during those years, something much more personal had quietly taken shape.
A School Born Out of Necessity
Marigold did not begin with a formal business plan. It began in a living room.
During COVID, Candice’s daughter was enrolled in a larger alternative school in Bali. While the educational philosophy resonated, the repeated closures and transition to online learning created challenges, particularly with a young child and toddler at home.
Seeking stability, Candice brought in a tutor. Six children gathered in her home to focus on literacy, Bahasa Indonesia, and music. It was intimate, practical, and deeply community-driven.
The group quickly grew. They moved into a small space in Berawa. More educators joined, including teachers for science and creative arts. A UK-trained educator helped formalize the academic framework, while Candice and her co-founder, Laura, structured the operational side.
What began as a temporary solution evolved into something families wanted to continue.
Over time, what Candice and Laura were creating became much more than a temporary homeschooling solution. It gradually evolved into the kind of educational environment they had always envisioned for their own children — one that balanced strong academics with emotional well-being, creativity, and genuine connection.
What started with just four students in early 2020 has since developed into a thriving learning environment for children aged 3 to 12 years old, now located in the village of Tumbak Bayuh. Despite its growth, Marigold has intentionally maintained its boutique feel and strong sense of community.
Candice shared that Marigold was never built around rapid expansion or fitting into a traditional schooling model. Instead, the school evolved organically alongside the needs of the children and families within the community.
A large part of the philosophy behind Marigold comes from Candice and Laura’s own experiences as parents. Through both motherhood and personal growth, they came to believe that children need more than academic instruction alone. They wanted to create a space where children feel safe, supported, excited to learn, and encouraged to develop creativity, confidence, and emotional awareness alongside academics.
Six years later, Marigold Community Learning remains intentionally boutique, community-focused, and steadily growing.
A Balanced Educational Approach
Marigold follows the Cambridge Assessment International Education framework for literacy and mathematics, providing internationally recognized academic standards. However, the delivery is intentionally flexible, inquiry-based, and project-led.
Students are supported in developing confidence, curiosity, and emotional awareness alongside academic progress. Social-emotional learning is not treated as secondary, it is integrated into daily school life. With a full-time on-site counselor and structured emotional literacy programs, students are guided in building resilience and self-regulation skills.
That philosophy is reflected not only in the curriculum itself, but also in the educators who make up the Marigold team. Candice explained that building the right environment and hiring teachers who genuinely align with the school’s child-centered and holistic approach has been one of the most important parts of Marigold’s growth.
At its core, Marigold was founded on the belief that children thrive when they feel emotionally secure, inspired, and connected to their environment. The long-term goal has always been to equip students with the tools needed to navigate an ever-changing world — academically, socially, emotionally, and creatively.
Interestingly, as students grow older, many begin requesting more structured assessments themselves — demonstrating readiness rather than pressure.
Learning That Extends Beyond the Classroom
One of the elements Simone found particularly compelling during the visit was the school’s emphasis on life skills and real-world learning.
Students engage in gardening, cooking, sewing, budgeting, and financial literacy. Monthly student markets allow children to create, price, and sell their own products. Older students have organized large-scale events, managing budgeting, logistics, and planning from start to finish.
Creative arts and technology are integrated thoughtfully. Students develop digital literacy skills alongside hands-on creative work. Bahasa Indonesia classes and local cultural celebrations ensure students remain connected to the country they are living in.
With a maximum of 14 students per class and two teachers in each classroom, learning remains personalized and adaptive.
Community and Transition Support
Marigold’s student body reflects Bali’s international community, with families from across Europe, Australia, North America, South America, Indonesia, and beyond.
For relocating families, transition is handled with care. Trial weeks are offered to ensure the right fit, and integration is thoughtfully supported — particularly for children adjusting to English as a second language.
Beyond academics, community plays a central role. Family camps, monthly markets, and informal gatherings encourage connection between parents — something especially valuable for families building a new life abroad.
Candice also spoke about the deep gratitude she feels toward the community that has grown around the school over the years. For many families, Marigold has become more than just a place of education — it has become part of their support system and sense of belonging in Bali.
Supporting Families in Making Informed Choices
At Our Year in Bali, the goal is not to promote one school over another, but to help families make informed decisions based on their child’s personality, learning style, and long-term plans.
Every school in Bali has its own strengths, philosophy, and culture. Conversations like this one with Candice offer insight into the intention and vision behind each educational environment. For families exploring schooling options as part of their relocation journey, understanding these stories can make the process clearer and far less overwhelming.
If you are considering a move to Bali and would like guidance on schools, visas, housing, and community integration, Simone and the Our Year in Bali team are here to support you through each step of the transition.
