Our identity

The best of both worlds

Founded in 1969, Le Verseau is a Belgian school that offers a French-language education to a diverse community of Belgian and international students, seamlessly integrating Anglo-Saxon language and culture into our daily activities. Our inspiring and nurturing environment fosters collaboration and well-being, empowering our students to realise their full potential and prepare for a bright future, no matter where their paths may lead.

As a member of the FELSI*, Le Verseau emphasises interactive teaching methods, where the students’ best interests and their relationship with the teachers are paramount. We believe that meaningful connections inspire deeper learning and personal growth, allowing each child to thrive academically and emotionally. Join us at Le Verseau, where we strive to cultivate curiosity, creativity, empathy and courage in every student.

*FELSI – Federation of Independent Subsidised Non-Denominational Establishments

Interculturality

At Le Verseau, interculturalism lies at the very heart of our identity. It is a daily source of richness, expressed in an atmosphere of openness, mutual respect and meaningful exchange.

Our students and staff come from a wide range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds, growing and learning together in an environment where differences are not only welcomed but celebrated as opportunities for growth and shared inspiration.

While French is the main language of instruction, nearly half of our students also speak English at home, and many live in multilingual environments. Outside the classroom, pupils are encouraged to express themselves in the language they feel most comfortable with, and to share their own culture with authenticity and pride.

Newcomers are supported through dedicated French as a Foreign Language programme and personalised guidance to ensure smooth integration into our school community.

Throughout their school journey, students take part in meaningful international initiatives: Erasmus+ exchanges, partnerships with schools in Belgium and abroad, the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, language and cultural projects with the Goethe Institute, as well as trips to foreign countries. These experiences offer students new perspectives on learning, living and thinking, while developing essential life skills: independence, empathy, open-mindedness and adaptability.

This global outlook is also embedded in our citizenship curriculum. In addition to the Philosophy and Citizenship course, students are invited to explore the world’s major religions, engage in thoughtful discussion, and develop their own ethical perspective.

Le Verseau is far more than an international school — it is a place where every student is encouraged to grow into a curious, responsible and deeply human individual.

Our history

The International School “Le Verseau” was founded in September 1969. Our founder, Suzanne van der Straten wanted to create an establishment where learning could be pursued in a multicultural atmosphere, in a spirit that favoured the acquisition of languages, sciences, artistic and creative activities where there was an emphasis on the importance of the individual.

The founder’s concern was to encourage the students to think for themselves and to be respected as individuals. Great importance is given to individual freedom and the teaching staff is encouraged to have a positive attitude towards the students in order to give them the self-confidence that is so important for character building.

The school management and staff do everything possible to keep this ideal alive by building day by day a school that is caring, demanding, and deeply respectful of each individual, all within a human-sized environment.

Our philosophy

School is not only a place in which to prepare for a career or a profession; it must also allow for the development of the entire personality and link it to life, both individually and within society as a whole.

It is from this perspective that, while attaching great importance to academic subjects, imagination, sports and artistic activities are also valued as well as learning about relationships.

To this end we feel it is important to encourage the students to develop an understanding of themselves and thus to learn to reflect as much on the basis of an awareness of their own behaviour as by the personal integration of knowledge. A critical approach is, therefore, essential in a world of profound change and we seek to develop this through learning to decipher the media landscape and through scientific and philosophic questioning.

By assisting our students to discover, understand and express themselves and to have self-confidence, we aim to help them to find their place within, and positively connect to, their social environment, the life and culture of their time, with nature and with the universe.

Le Verseau wishes to stress the importance of making contact at a profoundly human level. Through its humanistic educational approach, the school from the start has sought to be both international and open to other cultures: students and teachers speaking different languages, coming from diverse cultures and philosophies live and work side by side in a cheerful, friendly and open atmosphere that encourages dialogue.

Students’ attention is drawn to the respect of all human beings at every opportunity during lessons and at all other moments in the day to day running of the school. They are educated to have an awareness of the importance of the world, the environment and a love of life. Our wish is that this takes place with an open spirit and those taking part feel not only interested or involved, but committed and responsible.