Earlier this month, we welcomed four educators from Northlands School in Argentina: Lucila, Camila, Carolina, and Agustina. They visited our classrooms, met with our teaching teams, and joined our daily life at St PETER’S.
Their visit reminded us of something essential: being open is not just about letting others see what we do. It’s about listening, sharing, and learning together.
At St PETER’S, we believe in being an Open School: a school that grows through connection, collaboration, and curiosity.
A Global Network of Learning
Our doors are open to educators and students from around the world. Every year, we welcome future teachers through our partnership with Bill Lewis and the University of Delaware.
In January 2025, a colleague of Bill Lewis will bring a group of six trainee teachers to our campus as part of the University Programme. They will join other trainee teachers from the University of Cork, with whom we have an agreement through the International University of Catalonia (UIC), as well as other students from around the world who are interested in our innovative IB project. They’ll step into our classrooms, take part in pedagogical discussions, and contribute to daily life at school. These experiences enrich our community and remind us that everyone has something to bring, no matter where they come from.
Learning Beyond Borders
Our commitment to learning doesn’t stop at our front gate. Last year, our leadership team—Lourdes Barceló Mestre (CEO), Dr. Teresa Ferrer (Head of Educational Strategy), Jordi Ginjaume Culell (Head of School), and Josep Maria Ginjaume Culell (CFO)—travelled to Boston to visit some of the most innovative schools in the world.
They also visited MIT, Harvard, and other institutions, asking bold questions about the future of education. What stood out most wasn’t the technology, but the people—their questions, their creativity, their purpose. In addition, in November, our CFO Josep Maria Ginjaume Culell participated in the Singularity University Gathering in Madrid, joining leaders from different sectors to explore how exponential technologies are shaping the future of learning and society.
These trips are part of who we are: a learning organisation, always reflecting, always evolving.
AI Strategy: Authenticity, Transparency, Security
We’re exploring how tools like Artificial Intelligence can support more personalised, engaging learning. But we believe innovation only matters if it respects three core principles: authenticity (keeping the human touch), transparency (being clear about how and when AI is used), and security (ensuring everything we do is legally sound and ethically safe). We’re currently reviewing all our systems and processes to align with these values.
That’s why we invest in training across all areas of the school, from teaching and learning to communication and leadership. We’re learning too, through professional development, international programs, and collaborative networks.
Growing Through Community
As an international school rooted in Barcelona, we know the value of connection—both local and global.
We take part in the Metropolitan Business Association, collaborating with leaders like Victor Horcasitas, Maria Kelly, Feykje (Fey) Mosch, Elianna Paner, and Niamh Mannion to share ideas and strengthen our community ties.
On October 25th, we’ll also take part in the International Community Day, where we look forward to meeting families, educators, and professionals who are new to Barcelona—and who, like us, believe in the power of learning together. Just last Saturday, we also celebrated our International Day for Families, a joyful event that brought our school community together through food, music, and cultural exchange. It was a beautiful example of what happens when we open our doors and hearts to one another.
Still Learning
Every visit, every exchange, every shared project is part of something bigger.
Being an Open School means staying curious. It means making space for new voices. It means asking better questions—together.
Because at St PETER’S, we know that true learning doesn’t happen behind closed doors.
It happens when we open them.
