From the 14th to 18th October 2025, 19 schools from 17 different countries gathered around one theme “Imagine the school of tomorrow”! Innovating, Motivating, Acting, Gathering, Involving, Networking and Educating were the key words of this IMAGINE Conference. 30 students were hosted at host families’ and started discovering the French culture as soon as they arrived in Armentières.
It all began with the Opening Ceremony involving 40 people including students, teachers, deputy heads, secretaries, staff members. It started with a will to break the walls of the old school and ended with the powerful Imagine of John Lennon. During 45 minutes we could hear a newborn choir or music band. We could see videos welcoming the delegations, or others presenting the topic of the conference. Cathy Flahaut, the headmistress of Saint Jude, welcomed the participants and her speech was followed by others from Mr Bulteau, deputy diocesan director, and from Pascal Carpentier, President of the Europroject.
Students worked on different workshops combining creativity and reflection on how they imagined the school of tomorrow. Some worked with a Street artist on ecology, created a manga on a school day, imagined a fashion show on the way we would dress, invented sketches on the future rules or even realized a model of the school buildings. They presented their creation during the Closing Ceremony and we were all impressed by what they had achieved in such a short time. But they didn’t only work! Their stay began with cohesion games, went on with orienteering and Flemish Games and finished with a lunch on a barge and a tour of Lille and some free time!
On the first day, teachers and students had some opportunities to see one another. For example, they shared a coffee break during which we could take photos of each delegation around a frame representing their school. Before being all welcomed at the Town Hall by the Mayor, teachers also had some time to go and see their students in their workshops.
On their side, teachers also had a busy conference! To start with, they attended lectures on the topic of the conference. The first one with Catherine, an English teacher, who interacted with them on the pretasks they had sent on how the School had changed since the 2000s and the second one with Jean Charles Cailliez, a University teacher expert in pedagogy who explained us how to reinvent the way we teach. Innovation was also enhanced by a visit of the Cube in Tourcoing which is a place where education is rethought and where innovation is everywhere. After these presentations, participants were split into five groups to think about the school of the future and complete panels elaborated by French students who had started thinking on the past and the present of our five topics: environment, school rules, outfit, school days and buildings. They all did a great job and the work was also exhibited during the Closing Ceremony.
As for the students, teachers also had fun thanks to an escape game, an innovating way to visit the school, a tour of Cassel, one of the most beautiful villages in France, a visit of the Flanders museum or of a brewery. And last but not least, a tour of Lille in 2CV, which pleased everyone!
The time we shared all together was amazing and the Farewell Party during which teachers, students and all the French teachers and staff involved in the conference could sing and dance together, ended with an incredible firework on the school ground.
It was difficult for everyone to part and students spent a very long time hugging one another before leaving. No doubt they will all stay in touch.
Everyone had stars in their eyes and the bond we created will remain for a long time. It was more than a conference, it was a family meeting, and the souvenirs will stay for a long time. Thank you to all the French participants who have made it possible and thank you to
everyone, students and adults from the Europroject Network for having made it more beautiful and unforgettable.
