Belgium School Exchange 2024
For the third consecutive year, fourteen Year 11 pupils, both girls and boys, participated in the school’s now annual exchange with Spes Nostra Kuurne School, a Catholic secondary school located in the Belgian city of Kortrijk, just a short distance from the French border. The exchange took place between Tuesday, 12th November and Friday, 15th November.
Our students received a warm welcome from the school and, especially, from their host families, with whom they stayed for the duration of the visit. Later this academic year, the Belgian students will make a return visit to London.
As part of the exchange, our pupils spent time at Spes Nostra Kuurne, offering them the opportunity to experience a typical day in the life of Belgian students. Language was not a barrier, as most of the Belgian students and teachers are fluent in English—a common skill among young people in Europe. While the timetable at Spes Nostra Kuurne was similar to that at St Mary’s, our pupils noticed differences such as the absence of school uniforms, and the fact that most students cycle to and from school.
On Wednesday afternoon and evening, the host families organized a variety of activities for our pupils, including ice skating, bowling, and a visit to the historic city of Bruges, known as the ‘Venice of the North’ because of its scenic canals. Some pupils were also taken to Ypres, a Flemish town famous for its medieval cloth trade and its significant role during the First World War. The pupils had the privilege of witnessing the ‘Last Post Ceremony’ at the Menin Gate, where buglers have played the Last Post every evening since 1928, in remembrance of the British and allied soldiers who died in and around the Ypres Salient. Nearly 55,000 soldiers' names are inscribed on the memorial's panels, all of whom have no known grave.
One of the highlights for many pupils was a visit to flax - The House of AI, just a short bicycle ride from the school. flax (short for Future Learning and Augmented Xperience) is an innovative experience centre focused on educating visitors about artificial intelligence. Created by the University of Applied Sciences VIVES, powered by KU Leuven's KULAK campus, Health House, and the European Union, flax offers an immersive educational experience showcasing advancements in AI. Pupils had the opportunity to engage with AI in various forms, including participating in a simulation of keyhole surgery, among other activities.
Our school is grateful to the students, staff, and families of Spes Nostra Kuurne for their warm welcome and hospitality during our pupils' visit. Their generosity ensures that the friendship between our two schools will continue to thrive for years to come. We look forward to welcoming the Belgian students to our school later in the academic year.
A special thank you goes to Mrs. Wheeler-Choudhury and Mr. Saint-Prix for organizing the trip and accompanying our pupils on this memorable exchange
Belgium Exchange - November 2024
