In recent years, a growing number of families have chosen the Backpack-Free School, an educational model developed in Italy by educationalist Marco Orsi that places the student at the center through the values of responsibility, hospitality, and sharing.
Far from traditional classroom teaching, the Backpack-Free School offers active, collaborative, and experiential learning, where children learn by doing, experimenting, and working together. This approach develops independence, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills, guiding students on a journey of growth that goes far beyond academic knowledge alone.
For many families in the province of Turin, at the end of the fifth grade, an important question arises: how can this educational journey continue into secondary school?
For students who attended a Backpack-Free School, the Holden Middle School in Chieri represents a natural continuation of their journey, thanks to an educational program that shares the same educational values and a modern vision of learning.
The Finnish Method at the Heart of the Holden Project
Holden Middle School has chosen to draw inspiration from the principles of the Finnish educational model, internationally recognized for its ability to combine quality learning, student well-being, and personal skills development.
A distinctive element of the project is the significant focus on teacher training. Through Erasmus+ projects, Holden teachers have the opportunity to visit schools, participate in refresher courses, and engage directly with the best educational institutions in Northern Europe. This allows them to bring innovative teaching practices, successfully tested in the most advanced school systems, to Chieri and translate them into concrete experiences for students.
It’s not simply a matter of adopting new methodologies, but of building an educational culture that truly places the student, their talents, and their learning pace, at the center.
The Best Practices That Make Holden Unique
Inspiration from the models observed in Finnish schools translates daily into activities
that make Holden an innovative and dynamic educational institution.
Outdoor lessons, educational and experiential field trips, workshops, interdisciplinary projects, and
learning through experience become an integral part of school life,
allowing students to develop concrete skills and a greater awareness
of the world around them.
Great attention is also paid to study organization. For this reason, much of the homework is done at school, with the support of teachers, encouraging independence, method, and better quality family time.
Among the most popular initiatives are the Parents in the Classroom and Parents in the Cattedra projects, which actively involve families in school life. Professions, passions, skills, and personal experiences become opportunities for authentic learning and a connection between the school and the community.
These are complemented by shared lessons, cooperative activities, interdisciplinary programs, and opportunities for discussion that value the contribution of each student, in full harmony with the principles of responsibility, hospitality, and sharing that also characterize the Backpack-Free model.
A reference point for families in the province of Turin
Thanks to this educational vision, the Holden Middle School in Chieri has become a reference point for many families in the province of Turin seeking a school capable of supporting their children in their personal growth as well as their learning.
For students from backpack-free schools, Holden represents a coherent and natural educational continuity. At the same time, it is an increasingly popular choice for families who have undertaken homeschooling programs and desire a school environment based on active participation, autonomy, and experiential learning.
Holden demonstrates every day that it is possible to teach differently: a school that goes beyond simply imparting content, but also develops aware, responsible citizens ready to face the future with curiosity, competence, and confidence in their own abilities.
