Liège Exchange Programme Inspires Cultural and Linguistic Growth

Last week, Mrs Geissler and Mr Ageo accompanied 26 Year 9 and 10 students to Liège for the return leg of our successful exchange programme. The visit provided students with a valuable opportunity to deepen their linguistic skills, broaden their cultural understanding, and strengthen the international friendships formed earlier in the year.

Over the weekend, host families organised a wide range of enriching activities, including visits to Brussels and outings to Walibi theme park, giving students an authentic experience of Belgian culture and family life.

During the week, students visited La Maison de la Science, where they participated in engaging workshops on static electricity and liquid nitrogen, as well as enjoying a visit to the planetarium. On Tuesday, the group travelled to Namur, the capital of Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium, where students explored the city’s history and culture.

Students also spent time attending lessons in school on Wednesday, experiencing daily life in a Belgian classroom, before enjoying the bank holiday with their host families on Thursday. The week concluded with an exciting virtual reality dinosaur experience and a treasure hunt through the Roman ruins of Place Saint-Lambert.

The exchange was a tremendous success, reflected in the emotional farewells at the station on Saturday morning, as students ran alongside the departing train waving goodbye. For many, the experience marked not only significant linguistic and cultural growth, but also the beginning of long-lasting international friendships.

Mme Graves
Head of French