School of JoyA place where children learn because they want to, not because they have to.
School of Joy is a home — literally — where children aged 5-14 learn through play, real projects, and the freedom to choose their day. No grades, no competition, no fear.
We are not a school. We are a community that learns.
The name can be confusing, so let's be direct: School of Joy is not a school in the classic sense. No teachers lecturing at a blackboard, no grades, no imposed curriculum. Not because we lack rigor — but because we consciously chose something else.
We believe a child today needs four things to thrive in a world changing faster than any school curriculum can keep up with:
Collaboration
Children work together, not against each other. Without grades, there is no reason to compete.
Creativity
Through real projects — terrariums, electric circuits, relief maps — not repetitive exercises.
Critical thinking
We analyse real and hypothetical situations that prepare them for life, not just for a test.
Communication
Assertive and direct — including about needs, boundaries and power.
At the foundation sits a single word: respect. I respect myself and my limits. I respect you. We respect the environment we live in.
Read our full philosophy →What a day at School of Joy actually looks like
The day starts at 9:30 with a morning meeting — children say what they want to do today, much like a team stand-up. Then come activities proposed either by adults (math, history, experiments, "ask me anything" about money, the body, the universe) or by the children themselves.
We eat lunch together. The afternoon brings more activities, then a moment of reflection, and together we prepare the space for tomorrow.
Flexible schedule — from one day a week up to five; mornings (9:00–13:00) or full days (9:00–15:00).
See the full daily schedule
The place
We live in a 240 m² house in Făget, with the forest a few steps away and a garden the children tend themselves. We go out into the woods often — studying rocks and plants, learning what nature offers and how to find our way in it.
For parents wondering "but what comes next?"
We know the question that always comes: "Fine, but what happens when they have to go to high school?"
Research in recent years shows that students coming from self-directed learning environments adapt to traditional structures much faster than the other way around — usually within weeks or months.
We don't prepare children to pass an exam. We prepare them to succeed in life — whether that means financial success or finding joy in what they do.
Read all frequently asked questions
Weekly STEAM workshops at QUB
Children in our older group attend weekly science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics workshops at QUB — the centre for science and art in Cluj-Napoca. Learn more →
