Choosing the right school is one of the most important and often overwhelming decisions families face when relocating to Bali. With so many international and alternative options available, parents aren’t just choosing a curriculum, but a lifestyle, a community, and the values their children will grow up with.
In this on-the-ground conversation, Simone, Founder of Our Year in Bali, visits Wood School Bali to sit down with Pete, Head of Primary and a parent who has made the move to Bali with his own family.
Filmed on location at Wood School Bali, this conversation explores what education can look like when values come first — from kindness and connection to nature, to sustainability, community, and how children truly experience learning day to day.
This article is based on the original YouTube video, where Simone tours the school, explores the campus, and dives deeper into how alternative education works in real life. If you’re considering schooling options in Bali, we highly recommend watching the full video to see the environment, classrooms, and philosophy in action.
Watch the full YouTube video filmed at Wood School Bali to get the complete picture.
Meet Pete, Head of Primary at Wood School Bali
Pete has been teaching for over 15 years, working in schools across Southeast Asia. Before moving to Bali, he had firsthand experience in more traditional education systems, environments heavily focused on testing, academic outcomes, and information retention.
Over time, this left him questioning whether that approach truly served children.
“I felt strongly that I was doing a disservice to children by providing them with that experience,” Pete explains.
When he and his wife began looking for a new place to live and educate their children, they knew they wanted something different — an alternative form of education that aligned with their values as a family.
That search led them to Bali, and specifically to Wood School Bali — not just as parents, but eventually as educators within the school itself.
Why Wood School Bali & Alternative Education
Wood School Bali is a neohumanist school, an educational philosophy that places universal love, kindness, and interconnectedness at the centre of learning.
“At Wood School, we celebrate universalism, love, and kindness for all living things,” Pete shares.
Rather than treating these ideas as abstract concepts, they are embedded throughout the curriculum and daily school life. Children learn how everything is connected, people, nature, animals, and the wider environment, and how even small acts of kindness can ripple outward in meaningful ways.
Importantly, children are taught that positive action doesn’t always come with immediate reward. Acts of service, care, and responsibility are valued for the impact they have on others and the environment, not for praise or grades.
This mindset shapes not just what children learn, but how they see their role in the world.
Ages, Class Sizes & Curriculum Overview
Wood School Bali welcomes children from age 3 through to 13, covering early years through middle years education.
One of the school’s defining features is its small class sizes, typically between five and ten students per class. This allows teachers to build strong relationships with each child and adapt lessons based on individual interests and curiosity.
Rather than rigid, age-based learning silos, the school works with shared project themes across all year levels.
For example, during one term focused on crafting a healthier environment:
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Early years explored eco enzymes
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Years 1–2 focused on recycling and upcycling
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Years 3–4 studied food science and sustainable food sources
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Middle years examined air pollution, air quality, and environmental health in parts of Indonesia
Each age group approaches the theme differently, but everyone is connected through a shared purpose and understanding.
Outdoor Learning & Nature-Based Education
Nature is not a backdrop at Wood School Bali; it is an active part of the classroom.
Located in a lush area surrounded by rice fields, the school prioritises outdoor learning, with around 50% or more of lessons taking place outside.
Teachers intentionally design lessons to move outdoors whenever possible, recognising that environmental awareness comes from direct connection, not textbooks alone.
Classrooms open onto shared garden and courtyard spaces, creating a fluid learning environment where children move freely between indoor and outdoor areas throughout the day.
A Zero-Waste School Rooted in Sustainability
Sustainability at Wood School Bali goes far beyond theory.
The school operates as a zero-waste campus, with no plastic used on site. Meals are wrapped in banana leaves, all food waste is composted, and the system comes full circle through the school’s gardens and rice paddies.
One of the most unique features? The school’s rescued water buffalo, who play a role in composting food waste. Their manure is then used to fertilise the gardens, closing the loop between consumption, waste, and food production.
Children don’t just learn about sustainability — they live it daily.
The campus also includes:
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Dedicated yoga spaces for daily practice
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Outdoor swimming pools for swimming lessons
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Shared play spaces where children of all ages interact
This mixed-age interaction strengthens community bonds and encourages younger and older students to learn from one another naturally.
What Bali Offers Families Relocating
For Pete and his family, Bali offers far more than beautiful scenery.
“It’s about meeting like-minded people,” he explains.
Bali has a well-established expat community, alongside the infrastructure families often need when relocating — from healthcare and amenities to housing and lifestyle options. But schools like Wood School Bali create an even deeper sense of belonging.
Through the school community, families naturally connect with other parents, educators, and children who share similar values. This layered sense of community makes settling into life in Bali more supported and less isolating.
Beyond school life, Bali offers endless opportunities for exploration, cultural learning, and family time — with something new to do every weekend.
Most importantly, Pete notes one simple truth: his children enjoy going to school.
“They’re lucky kids,” he says.
Final Thoughts on Schooling in Bali
This conversation highlights an important reality for families considering a move to Bali: education here can look very different from what many parents experienced growing up.
Schools like Wood School Bali offer an alternative, one where kindness, connection to nature, sustainability, and community are not extras, but the foundation of daily learning.
For families seeking more than academic results alone, and for parents who want education to reflect their values, this approach can be a powerful reason to choose Bali.
And as Simone often reminds families navigating this journey, you don’t have to figure it all out alone. If you’re looking for more clarity and comparison across different schooling options, our Bali School Guide offers practical insights to help you move forward with confidence.
