News Year 11 French Students Explore Montpellier 02.11.2026

During the first week of half-term, our Year 11 and Upper Sixth French students visited Montpellier, a dynamic city celebrated for its rich history, art and food. The group spent the week with their welcoming host families, improving their language skills and immersing themselves in the culture of the city.

The week offered an exciting mix of language school in the morning and a variety of cultural activities in the afternoon. This included students trying out their moves at an Occitan dance workshop in the Place du Peyrou, and learning about the history of the city with a guided walking tour.

The highlight for many was Wednesday’s full-day excursion to Arles, a UNESCO heritage site famous for its Roman architecture, its cathedral and its connections to Van Gogh, who painted some of his best-known works there. The group then headed to the Camargue and Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, where a boat trip gave them the chance to see wild horses and bulls.

The group rounded off the trip with a lively bowling session, with all of the teachers joining in, as well as some free time at a modern shopping complex.

Both the host families and staff were delighted by how confidently students communicated, and much fun was had by all. One pair were even treated to a Halloween party by their hosts! Their behaviour was exemplary and they returned with big smiles, improved French and plenty of stories to share.