16 pupils from Years 8 and 9 travelled to the delightful Opal Coast region of Normandy at the end of the Spring Term. They sampled the local culinary and cultural delights, and had plenty of opportunities to practise their spoken French.

Highlights included: a walking tour of St Omer; a visit to a boulangerie, where they learned to make dough for baguettes, pains au chocolat and croissants; a morning spent at La Halte d-Autrefois goat farm, learning about cheese-making and feeding the animals; an afternoon in a chocolaterie; and a memorable visit to Nausicaá, Europe’s largest aquarium.

They also enjoyed a scavenger hunt at the market in Étaples, and some welcome retail therapy at an Auchan hypermarché.

All in all, it was a jam-packed three days of activities, fun and gastronomie.

On Wednesday 27 March we departed from Queenswood to start our journey to France. We went by coach until we got off at 11 am to get on the ferry. We went to St Omer and visited the local area. We got ice cream and browsed the French shops.

We went shopping at Auchan (a big shopping mall) where we had lots of time to do some shopping. After our long day of travel, we arrived at the chateau, after dinner we made our own crêpes.

The next morning we went to a boulangerie. The baker showed us each step of making bread, and all in French! We learned many new French words and vocabulary used for cooking. After this we went to a goat farm; we got to make our very own goat-shaped bread with chocolate and even tried the fresh apple juice and goat’s cheese produced by the farm. We got to meet the goats and even tried milking them. We later visited a chocolate factory and learnt all about making chocolate - which we got to sample at the end of the tour.

On our final day we went to Nausicaá, the biggest aquarium in Europe. There were many animals there like fish, jellyfish, seals and penguins. We saw lots of great marine animals and took lots of pictures. This concluded our final day in France, we then had to go back onto the ferry to England.

Jessica and Emma, Year 9

We had a great time on the French trip. We visited St Omer, explored the town on foot and ordered ice cream in French. We even interviewed some locals who told us about their routines when we were in a shopping centre. Of course we managed to do some shopping as well.

Then we went to a local bakery where we helped the baker make bread, then to a goat farm where we made bread using goat’s milk and chocolate. Off to a chocolate factory afterwards, trying chocolate and watching how they make it. The photos were incredible!

Being in a room with our friends was great and so much fun but so were the activities such as a silent disco at our accommodation. The food was good. We made crêpes on the first night with our own choice of toppings and even tried snails with garnishes on a later one!

Before we finally left, we visited an aquarium filled with so many different animals and giant tanks. We had such a great time walking around and buying gifts from the gift shop for our family and friends. Très bien! 

Greisi, Year 9