the city is our classroom
the island is our backyard
Combining the best of what urban life and nature can offer, REAL School is located in Óbuda, right next to the Danube river, at a stunning location in the middle of the academic area of Graphisoft Park. Our neighbours are higher education institutions, research and development organisations, startups and technology companies. We have direct access to a large green space for free play and for our very own urban raised-bed food garden. The proximity of the Danube and the Óbudai Island is a major plus - in a few minutes we can jump into a huge pile of leaves, take a bike ride or read under the trees.
We have turned a 100-year-old, fully restored historical building into our dream home, inspiring children and the whole community on a daily basis. The intention is for the campus to be both a demonstration and an experimentation ground for sustainable living.
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We recognise that learning is innately human and happens everywhere and all the time: at school, at home, in the city, around the world. Our physical environment at the school plays a major role in how we feel, behave, and develop, and hence it is of utmost importance at the REAL School. The environment needs to support our social-emotional wellbeing, our pedagogical philosophy, and our approach to sustainability.
wall-less-ness
Wall-less-ness is also physical, not just philosophical at the REAL School. Most learning spaces are open plan and change based on project needs, while much of the learning happens outside of the campus. Using all the city and nature has to offer for everyday activities eliminates the walls between school and the world.
FURNITURE we
care about
Most of our furniture was created by us using sustainable materials and technologies. We use locally sourced components, such as cardboard, wood, timber, glue and felt to create natural surfaces. They feel good to the touch, soft to the eyes and warm to the heart. We use minimal steel and no plastic (except when we receive good quality reused furniture as gifts – thanks for those!).
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
When searching for the perfect campus, having a big, enjoyable, full-of-adventures outdoor space was essential for us. Learning cannot and should not be limited to the indoors. Children who spend time outdoors under every type of weather conditions end up more resilient and more balanced. We thankfully found an amazing space where we can do just that.
plant-based LUNCH
The school offers delicious plant-based food, with a school lunch menu created especially for REAL School. Our ambition is to have much of the veggies come from our own urban food garden, which is designed and cared for by children and adults together. Developing awareness of our relationship with food is crucial to both personal well-being, and that of our planet.
Sustainability
isn't a luxury, it's a necessity
We recognise that there is not yet a universally shared understanding of “sustainability,” and that some people find the term problematic for a variety of reasons. Still, it is clear that unintentionally educating for unsustainability makes no sense, if we want to flourish over time. Education for Sustainability as a pedagogy implies that we are intentional about preparing students to participate in the shift toward the future we want. Whether you prefer the word sustainable, restorative, regenerative, resilient or something else, we are recruiting educators who are united in their desire to cultivate individual and collective potential and to increase the possibility that humans and other life can flourish on Earth now and into the future. We hope that those of you who fit that description will join us on this journey. [adapted from the Cloud Institute]
We refer to the
UN Sustainable Development Goals
when we consider challenges with which we engage
