Learnlife
Founded by EO member Christopher Pommerening in 2017, Learnlife is a learning innovation hub in Barcelona and in 2026 one of ten schools worldwide shortlisted for the World's Best School Prize for Innovation. Three hubs teach 250+ children aged 6 to 18 without grades or exams; learners show what they know in showcases and 360° feedback with parents.
They have done this before. Learnlife is Mindvalley's education partner for the Mindvalley U Youth Program, now in its second edition: a short, intense programme for the children of parents attending a global gathering, run by Learnlife guides next to the main event. Kyoto is a new city, not a new idea.
Learning by doing Passion and project-based learning in "building blocks" instead of rigid subjects. Children make something real and show it to others.
Guides, not lecturers Learning guides trained in Learnlife's own framework, used to mixed-age groups, camps and short programmes. Relationships first.
Recognised NEASC-accredited; 400+ educators trained and 40+ schools reached across 12 countries; recognised by the OECD, UCL, Forbes, Getting Smart and HundrED.
The Learnlife methodology, in their words
From standardised to personal learning
Traditional schooling is teacher-centric, curriculum-mandated and passive. Learnlife's paradigm moves learners along a path: from personalised (experiences selected for each learner) to co-created (learners shape their own experiences, reflect and share responsibility) to personal learning, where learners show agency, self-direction, self-regulation, evident responsibility and a desire to use what they learn for positive impact. In three days the Kyoto programme works at the co-created end: the children decide what to build, in teams, and own the result.
The four foundations
Relationships. Trust and connection are the foundation of deep learning. Every programme starts there.
Culture. With relationships in place, a strong, positive culture of learning lets a group flourish.
Purpose. Children thrive when their learning feels meaningful; purpose is what engages them deeply.
Lifelong learning. Habits and self-awareness that empower learners far beyond school.
How the day is built
Learnlife uses building blocks instead of rigid subjects: units designed to promote learner agency (choice, voice, ownership), to be authentic and real-world oriented, and to mix methodologies so learners explore different ways of learning. Blocks are tweaked to the actual group, its needs and passions. In Kyoto, the blocks are Japanese: a market, a mascot, a temple, a brief from a real business.
How learning is shown
No grades, no exams. Learners collect and create outputs that demonstrate what they can do, present them, and self-assess alongside their learning guide. At the hubs this means a showcase every cycle, a Learning Vitae as the running record, and 360s with parents. In Kyoto, each group ends with its own showcase on day three, and parents are invited.
Learnlife's Competency Model combines 26 research-backed methodologies and is aligned with the Catalan Ministry of Education. Source: Learnlife "Inspiring a love of learning" brochure and Primary Competency Framework.
