When we moved from London to Bali, the sun, sea, and sand were all part of the dream. But choosing the right school for our two children was a whole new challenge. After visiting a handful of schools, we landed on Amed Honeycomb School—a small, relatively new non-profit nestled in a quiet village on the east coast of Bali. Now, a year in, we’ve learned more than a few things about this place. Here are six reasons we enrolled our children at Amed Honeycomb School, and why we’ve (mostly) loved it.
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1. The Community Is Unlike Any Other
The first thing that drew us to Amed Honeycomb School was the tight-knit community. We come from London, where schools are often enormous, and kids can get lost in the shuffle. Not here. With its modest size, Amed Honeycomb School feels like a large family—everyone knows each other. When our son, Tom, started his first day, he wasn’t just a face in the crowd. Teachers and other parents immediately introduced themselves. There’s a sense that everyone is looking out for one another, something we found incredibly refreshing.
That said, the closeness can sometimes feel a bit too close. In a small expat village like Amed, you see the same people at school, at the local café, and at the beach. It’s comforting, but also a bit inescapable. There are times when you just want a bit of anonymity, and you won’t get that here.
2. A Curriculum That Goes Beyond the Basics
One of the things we worried about when moving from London was whether our children would receive the same academic rigor we were used to. Amed Honeycomb School follows the British curriculum, so in theory, we shouldn’t have to worry. Our daughter, Clara, who’s 12, is studying for her iGCSEs, just as she would have back home. But what’s interesting is the way the school combines this with a local twist.
For example, last term, her geography lesson wasn’t just textbook work. The class went on a field trip to study coastal erosion by the beach—a perfect fusion of Bali’s natural environment and the academic framework of the British system. Our son, who’s only 6, had a math lesson where they built shapes from seashells. It’s learning that’s rooted in the here and now, with enough flexibility to keep the kids engaged.
3. Sustainability Isn’t Just a Buzzword
We were sold on Amed Honeycomb School’s focus on sustainability before we even set foot on campus. The school’s ethos is all about eco-conscious living and giving back to the environment. The classrooms are constructed from recycled wood, and the school itself is practically an open-air space. It’s all very “Bali.”
Our kids are learning about the planet in a hands-on way, not just from textbooks. They compost their food scraps at lunch, they grow plants as part of their science lessons, and they participate in local beach clean-ups. It’s been eye-opening for us as parents, too. We’ve become much more aware of our own environmental impact since moving here.
Of course, there are challenges. When the rainy season rolls in, that open-air classroom can suddenly feel a bit impractical. But, in true Bali style, the kids just adapt—grabbing their umbrellas or continuing their lessons under cover, with the sound of rain in the background.
4. A Small School Means Big Attention
If there’s one thing you won’t get at Amed Honeycomb School, it’s a sprawling campus with hundreds of students. This place is tiny compared to the schools we’ve known in London. And while that might raise some eyebrows, it’s actually been one of the best things for our kids.
In a school this size, the teachers really know their students. They don’t just teach—they mentor, they listen, and they adapt their approach based on each child’s needs. Clara has blossomed under this kind of attention. Back in London, she would sometimes get lost in the crowd, but here, her teachers have been able to recognize her strengths and push her accordingly. Tom, our more reserved child, has come out of his shell because he’s in a safe, nurturing environment.
The flip side is that a smaller school naturally means fewer resources. The range of extracurricular activities is more limited. You won’t find state-of-the-art sports facilities or specialized teachers for every subject. But for us, the personalized attention outweighs these limitations.
5. A New School, Still Finding Its Feet
Amed Honeycomb School is still relatively new—it only opened in 2022. That was a bit of a gamble for us, choosing a school without decades of history or a long-standing reputation. But we liked the idea of being part of something new and growing.
There have been a few teething problems along the way. Some programs, like extracurriculars and advanced courses, are still developing. As a new school, they’re figuring things out as they go. But the staff has been incredibly open to feedback. There’s a sense that parents and teachers are building this school together, which is pretty exciting when you think about it.
6. A Perfect Blend of Local and International
We wanted our children to feel like they were part of Bali, not just living in an expat bubble. Amed Honeycomb School has given us exactly that. The student body is a mix of expatriate and local Indonesian children, which means our kids are learning alongside peers from all walks of life.
The school also emphasizes community engagement. Our kids have participated in local projects that go beyond the typical charity work—they’re actively involved in the day-to-day life of the Amed community. This level of integration has made the transition to Bali life smoother for all of us. It’s not just about learning from textbooks; it’s about living and growing as part of this place.
