Many fields of knowledge and practice
Subject studios and workshops replace a fixed lesson timetable. Children try different fields, discover interests, and learn to make thoughtful choices.
Peremena School-Park near Moscow: self-directed education for children aged 6–16
How learning works without fixed classes and a conventional lesson timetable: a daily Core Skills session (Baza), subject studios, projects, learning mentors, project tutors, and individual learning pathways.
Читать по-русскиAges 6–16the main age range
About 20 kmfrom the Moscow Ring Road via Novorizhskoye Highway
Year-roundlearning space
Two weekstrial period for new participants
The short answer
What is Peremena School-Park?
Peremena School-Park is a self-directed learning space for children aged 6–16 in Ivanovskoye, Istra District, Moscow Region—about 20 km from the Moscow Ring Road along Novorizhskoye Highway.
At Peremena, children are not divided into conventional year groups or taught to a fixed lesson timetable. They choose subject studios, workshops, and projects. The daily rhythm also includes Baza, a Core Skills session for essential academic practice.
Children are not left alone to navigate these choices. Educators, learning mentors (called curators at Peremena), project tutors, and a psychologist help them recognise interests and difficulties, set goals, plan next steps, and reflect on their experiences. Our approach brings together freedom of choice and responsibility for one's own education.
A different approach
How is Peremena different from a conventional classroom model?
The main difference is that children take part in shaping their own learning pathways. In a conventional classroom model, much of the content, pace, and sequence of lessons is set in advance. At Peremena, children choose areas to explore, try things out, change direction, and gradually learn to take responsibility for their decisions.
Self-directed education does not mean leaving a child to manage alone. There is a daily structure, Baza, subject studios, projects, educators, learning mentors, project tutors, a psychologist, regular reflection, and feedback for families. Freedom exists within an environment that helps children learn how to use it.
What children do
Studios, daily Core Skills, and children's own projects
Regular practice of essential skills
The day includes time for reading, counting, writing, retelling, and working with texts.
From an idea to a result
A project tutor helps a child hold on to an idea, identify the next step, and work through obstacles without doing the project for them.
Choosing, negotiating, and acting together
Shared activities help children ask questions, listen to others, make decisions, and gradually take responsibility for their education.
How do children build essential academic skills?
In the daily Baza session, children work on reading, counting, writing, retelling, and understanding texts. Educators record observations about each child's progress. Learning mentors discuss goals and next steps with children, while parents receive substantive feedback.
Baza complements subject studios and projects; it does not replace them. More about Baza and feedback (in Russian).
Which studios and formats do educators offer?
Peremena offers subject-based learning, workshops, practical activities, games, and clubs.
- maths
- physics
- geography
- biology
- chemistry
- language arts
- history
- social studies
- English
- finance
- law
- self-discovery studio
- woodworking
- creative workshop
- clay work
- sport
- role-playing and board games
- discussion club
- hackathon
- book club
- film club
Beyond Peremena
Trips and activities outside the learning space
The programme also includes trips and events that take place beyond our own space.
Examples of children's projects
- nature trail
- skate ramp
- buggy
- board game
- mobile game
- community projects
- sports projects
What if a child does not want to choose anything?
Not choosing a studio does not always mean a lack of interest. A child may be reading, working on an idea of their own, or dealing with something adults do not yet know about. We observe what they are doing, how they feel with others, and whether the situation continues. If a difficulty persists, we discuss it with the child and family and look for the next step together. There is no single response that fits every child.
Support
How do adults support self-directed learning?
Interests, goals, and reflection
Builds a trusting dialogue, helps a child notice interests, connect them to studios and projects, and shape an individual learning plan.
From idea to outcome
Helps when a child gets stuck, asks useful questions, and supports the young project leader's independence.
Knowledge and practice
Leads subject-based and practical studios, helping children explore a topic and learn the tools they need.
Settling in and difficult moments
Supports children as they join the community, understand their emotions, and work through challenges.
Family feedback
How do parents hear about their child's education?
Seeing the journey, not just the outcome
At Peremena, educators make daily observations, children meet regularly with their learning mentors, and parents receive written summaries. Twice a year, structured family review meetings bring these perspectives together.
This helps children and families see change over time: interests, decisions, effort, difficulties, experience gained, and possible next steps.
Formal qualifications
How do assessments work, and where do children receive their certificates?
Our participants take interim assessments and Russia's final exams after Grades 9 and 11—the OGE and EGE—at an accredited partner educational institution. That institution issues the certificates. Peremena's educators and tutors support each child's individual pathway; we discuss the specific assessment arrangements with each family when we meet.
Boundaries and agreements
Are there rules and expectations at Peremena?
Yes. The community has a Constitution and rules that children and adults discuss and adopt at the General Circle. They cover living together, safety, and responsibility for shared agreements. A child's voice matters in these discussions, but that does not mean community decisions can be ignored.
Conflicts are discussed with a mediator, who may be an adult or a child. If the parties have not reached an agreement after three meetings, the matter may go to the General Circle. The Circle also decides how to respond when rules are broken. The aim is to help everyone understand actions and their consequences.
Teenagers
What does Peremena offer teenagers aged 13–16?
Teenagers in the in-person learning space can choose subject studios, take part in projects, discussions, shared decisions, and real community work. Areas offered at Peremena include self-discovery, finance, law, natural sciences, workshops, and clubs. A learning mentor and tutor help young people connect their interests to educational goals and next steps.
We also offer Peremena Compass, a separate online programme for ages 12–18, focused on self-discovery and planning an educational pathway. It is a separate format, not a compulsory part of in-person participation.
A family's choice
Who might Peremena School-Park suit?
When the approach feels right
It may suit you if you want your child to:
- learn to choose and take responsibility for their choices;
- move at their own pace and explore interests in depth;
- spend time with children of different ages;
- receive adult support without constant external direction.
When it may not be the right fit
If it is essential to your family that all children of the same age study the same material at the same time, that an adult sets every part of each day's pathway, and that grades and comparisons are the main measure of progress, Peremena's approach may not match your expectations.
Independence develops gradually. Alongside freedom, children learn to plan, negotiate, and take responsibility for the consequences of their decisions.
Families need to understand and share the principles of self-directed education. Parents are not expected to take part in the studios.
First-hand experiences
Interviews with Peremena parents, children, and alumni
Why do families choose this space?
Parents speak about a safe and respectful environment, attentive adults, children's freedom to choose, and the chance to preserve their curiosity. The interviews also include the doubts families had when they first came.
What does support look like in practice?
Family accounts mention parent support groups, being able to contact a learning mentor, psychologist, or educator promptly, and receiving meaningful feedback on a child's progress.
When are children trusted with real work?
Parents describe specific examples: building a skate ramp from idea to result, organising a competition, and contributing to shared tasks. Such work calls for planning, agreements, and following through.
What do we ask the children?
In videos, children compare their experiences in different educational settings. They also discuss what they like and dislike about playgrounds and imagine an ideal place to play.
What do alumni value later on?
Alumni remember learning alongside children of different ages, having freedom of choice alongside responsibility for their time, starting projects, reaching agreements, and setting personal boundaries.
What can be difficult?
Moving to a fixed timetable can take adjustment. In some interviews, alumni mention finding more structured work difficult, having different levels of preparation across subjects, and needing their own effort and self-discipline.
Two brief reflections from alumni: the freedom to choose and responsibility for one's time; finding a more structured setting harder at times.
Getting to know us
How can your family get to know Peremena?
Visit
Open days take place twice a month. You can also arrange an individual visit.
Trial period
Over two weeks, a child meets the community, tries studios and activities, and receives support from a learning mentor and psychologist.
Decide together
After the trial, a family meeting and community circle provide time to reflect on the experience together.
For parents
Frequently asked questions
10 questions parents ask about studios, maths, and assessmentsWhat ages does Peremena serve?
The main learning space is for children aged 6–16. Peremenka, the separate preschool programme, is for children aged 3–6.
Can children choose their own studios?
Yes. Choice is supported by conversation, planning, and reflection. A learning mentor helps a child notice interests, weigh possibilities, and work out next steps.
If children choose their studios, will they still learn?
Choice comes with responsibility: children discuss goals with their learning mentor, try studios and projects, and take part in the daily Baza session for reading, writing, counting, and working with texts. Adults help them recognise difficulties and plan what to do next. Choice and responsibility (RU) · Baza and observations (RU).
What if a child does not attend any studios?
We observe what the child is doing, how they feel around others, and whether the pattern continues. If a difficulty persists, we discuss it with the child and family and look for a next step together. Read more about making choices.
How can we see progress without conventional grades?
Educators record daily observations, learning mentors regularly discuss goals with children, and parents receive summaries. Structured family review meetings take place twice a year. Together, these show both results and the steps taken along the way. How we give feedback (RU).
What is the difference between a learning mentor and a project tutor?
A learning mentor supports a child's individual pathway and ongoing reflection. A project tutor helps them take a particular project from idea to result. The roles work together, but they are not interchangeable.
How do children take assessments and receive their certificates?
Interim assessments and Russia's OGE and EGE final exams take place at an accredited partner educational institution, which issues the certificates. We discuss each child's specific route with the family when we meet. Read more about assessments.
Will my child cover every subject at the usual pace?
Peremena's day is not designed around every child covering the same age-based syllabus in the same sequence. Children choose areas of work, learn through activity, and reflect on what they do. Baza supports core skills, while the route to assessments is discussed individually. The same academic outcome does not arise automatically for every child. Our approach to learning (RU).
Could my child move to a different educational setting later?
Alumni experiences vary. Skills in self-organisation and dialogue may help, but writing, fluency with basic maths, using textbooks, or adapting to a fixed timetable can require additional practice. Changing educational formats (RU).
What if my child does not make friends?
Getting to know people takes time. During the two-week trial period, a child meets other children and adults and tries activities with support from a learning mentor and psychologist. Afterwards, the family reflects on that experience with the team. The trial period (RU).
Does freedom of choice mean there are no rules?
No. Children and adults agree on rules at the General Circle. Conflicts are discussed with a mediator and, if needed, brought to the Circle. Read more about community rules.
How do you keep children safe when they can move around freely?
Freedom of movement does not remove safety rules. We discuss risks with children, provide safety briefings, and do not allow them to leave the grounds without an adult's permission. We can explain the current rules for your child's age when you visit. Safety at Peremena (RU).
What if my child spends a lot of time on devices?
We look for a balance through the child's interests, conversations about their choices, and the gradual development of responsibility. We do not promise a quick fix or claim that devices are completely banned. Our approach to devices (RU).
How do we get started?
First, families attend an open day or arrange an individual visit. A new participant can then take part in a two-week trial period with support from the team, followed by a conversation about the experience.
Where is Peremena located?
Building 150, Ivanovskoye settlement, Istra District, Moscow Region, Russia—about 20 km from the Moscow Ring Road along Novorizhskoye Highway.