FUTURUM: the first private primary school in Jūrmala set to open

Jūrmala is soon to welcome its first private primary school – FUTURUM – offering a state-licensed and accredited basic education programme for Years 1 to 6. The school will focus on the development of 21st-century skills, values-based education, and internationally recognised teaching methodologies tailored to the needs of today’s children. The school is scheduled to open in the 2026/2027 academic year. An estimated investment of up to €800,000 is planned for its development, and the project is currently open to new collaborators and potential investors.

At the heart of the school’s vision lies the belief that education is not only about the transfer of knowledge and skills, but also about nurturing each child as a unique individual – fostering self-confidence, emotional intelligence, and adaptability in a rapidly changing world. FUTURUM views each pupil as a thoughtful, emotionally aware and physically active individual, and supports their holistic personal growth to help them meet the challenges of today’s world with confidence and inner balance. Initially, the school will provide full-time education for Years 1 to 6, with plans to expand to Year 9 in the future. Classes will be small – no more than 15 pupils – and supported by a mentoring system to promote each child’s personal growth.

Jūrmala was selected as the school’s location as it is among the few Latvian cities showing consistent population growth in recent years, especially among young families. This indicates a growing demand for quality education and creates favourable conditions for establishing a modern, future-focused school. At present, there is no private school in Jūrmala, making this an ideal opportunity to introduce a high-quality alternative to the current educational offerings. FUTURUM aims to meet this demand by providing a school that is both academically strong and emotionally supportive, particularly for families seeking a more balanced, values-driven approach to learning.

“We aim to create a warm, engaging learning environment based on internationally proven practices – including methods used in countries such as Finland – while adapting them to the needs of Latvian pupils and today’s world. We integrate educational values and approaches passed down through generations of teachers and reshape them for the reality of modern children. We are building a professional team of educators and offering experienced teachers an opportunity to return to education – teachers who have gained wisdom and the ability to inspire. A teacher should not simply deliver content – they should be a role model children are inspired to follow,” explains the school’s founder, Alina Klemperte.

The legal entity behind the school – KLEMPERIAL Ltd., owner of the FUTURUM brand – has acquired official social enterprise status and has been awarded a grant from ALTUM, the Latvian development finance institution. However, this funding will only become available after one full year of operation, which means the project is currently being financed through private initiative. The planned budget for renovating a state-owned property and launching the school’s initial operations is around €800,000.

Founder Alina Klemperte adds: “We are open to investors and strategic partners who would like to be part of this unique educational project in Jūrmala – one that has the potential to become a model for modern education in Latvia and beyond. I believe education is a positive long-term investment that benefits not only the children, but society as a whole.”

In addition to the core national curriculum, FUTURUM will offer an extended programme with an emphasis on so-called “future skills” – including critical thinking, creativity, leadership, and emotional intelligence. Pupils will also be able to explore different worldviews and religious traditions through the elective subject “Foundations of Spirituality”, designed to develop tolerance and a reflective approach to life’s bigger questions. A new and innovative subject, Prompt Engineering, will teach children how to work with AI tools in a meaningful and practical way. The school also plans to organise international camps and exchange programmes in collaboration with educational institutions and teachers from France and other countries.

Equal importance will be given to physical and creative development. Pupils will have access to a wide range of extracurricular activities, including ballet, horse riding, archery, Chinese martial arts (wushu), drama, and regular nature hikes exploring Latvia’s rich natural and cultural heritage.

The school’s guiding motto is inspired by Mahatma Gandhi: “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” At FUTURUM, knowledge matters – but even more important are the abilities to feel, to think critically, to understand, to be human, and to act with kindness and integrity. These are the skills pupils will develop here – not only in the classroom, but through relationships, cooperation, and self-awareness.

Alina Klemperte, the founder of FUTURUM, is an entrepreneur with international education and professional experience in finance, construction and social enterprise. She holds an MBA from the Swiss Business School, a Master’s degree in Financial Management from BA School of Business and Finance in Latvia, and training in psychological counselling. She has led several social projects for children and young people in institutional care. As a mother of two, her mission is to create a psychologically safe and nurturing educational environment in Latvia – one in which every child feels supported, accepted, and motivated to learn.