News Bon Voyage en France 10.06.2022

A trip to France doesn’t always top the list of the most adventurous school trip destinations but you really wouldn’t know it seeing (and hearing) just how excited the Year 8 girls were for our first overseas trip since the pandemic.  And what an amazing (and eventful) visit to France it was.

128 Year 8 girls and fifteen members of staff arrived bright and early at Iffley Road on Wednesday morning, ready to catch one of the three coaches setting off across the channel. Despite some transport problems their spirits couldn’t be dashed and they all made it to the wonderful Château d’Ebblinghem near St Omer in Northern France in very good cheer. It was French countryside at its very best with all the dorms providing views and access to the beautiful green fields. There were many highlights and all the visitors were mesmerized by the city of Lille, the capital of the Hauts-de-France near the border with Belgium. The girls explored the cultural hub and bustling university city and discovered many Flemish influences and the historic centre with 17th-century brick town houses, cobbled pedestrian streets and the large central square, Grand Place. They even got to practise a bit of French! Many of them are already planning their return visit.

French food did not disappoint and the visit to Auchan in Calais was certainly quite an experience with over a hundred Year 8 girls frenetically searching out their favourite French delicacies to take back to England – or eat on the way home!

Our Head of French and Modern Languages, Mrs Corcoran – one of the teachers on the trip – commented, ‘Year 8 girls were just the best company we could have wished for. Such a happy, positive and fun bunch! We will all cherish all the life long memories we made.’