L’École dont nous rêvons – A Public Initiative Led by Laure Saint-Raymond

Photo credit: © Académie des sciences – Mathieu Baumer

As part of a broader reflection she has been leading at the Académie des sciences since spring 2024, Laure Saint-Raymond, Permanent Professor of Mathematics at IHES, has launched a national public consultation entitled “L’École dont nous rêvons” (The School We Dream Of). Supported by IHES, this initiative aims to develop structural reform proposals by bringing together diverse stakeholders in the French education system, with the goal of inspiring meaningful change in science education.

The consultation is centered around a manifesto-style book that outlines the key challenges schools must address to fulfill their core mission: helping all young people grow and learn together. Published in open access by Éditions Nane, the book encourages teachers, parents, school officials, and education professionals to share grassroots initiatives that are already making a difference on the ground.

Contributions submitted through this process will be compiled into a “golden book”, which will be presented to the French Parliament and government. This will be accompanied by concrete reform proposals aimed at creating a more agile education system and restoring trust among its stakeholders.

To gather as many ideas and testimonies as possible, citizen meetings are being organized throughout France in 2025.

One such event, held on February 4 at the Académie des sciences, focused on “School and Disability, 20 Years After the 2005 Law.” Families, educators, and support professionals gathered to share experiences and discuss ways to improve inclusivity in education.

Among the speakers was Jean-François Gesbert, principal of Érea Toulouse-Lautrec in Vaucresson—a unique institution that combines education with medical care and supports students with disabilities from primary school through to vocational degrees like the French Brevet de technician supérieur.

Participants took part in small group discussions exploring key themes:

• Schools and institutions: How can we better organize the “ant hill” of services and responsibilities?
• Teaching professions: What evolutions are needed to meet tomorrow’s needs?
• Student development: Who and what do we need to support children in developing their full potential?

CNRS researcher Pooran Mémari joined a group of support staff for students with disabilities and shared her willingness to initiate app development projects related to inclusion and accessibility. One promising idea involved using speech recognition technology to assist users with motor or visual impairments.

The next citizen meetings for “L’École dont nous rêvons” are scheduled for April in the Centre-Val de Loire region.