By Mrs Spencer, Head of French

Our Year 8 French trip to Normandy got off to a fantastic start. Before departure, the girls were already immersed in French as they watched Les Vacances du Petit Nicolas in the Main Hall while final preparations were made. Excitement was high as we set off for Portsmouth to catch the 4.30pm ferry to Ouistreham. The crossing flew by thanks to plenty of snacks, card games and, of course, lots of chatting! As Madame Spencer commented, “The girls were brilliant!”

After a restful night, everyone enjoyed a delicious French breakfast complete with fresh viennoiseries before setting off to explore Normandy. Our first stop was the moving American Second World War Cemetery in Colleville. Although some girls were unsure what to expect, one student, Maiya, summed it up perfectly: “Graveyards can be pretty!” The beautifully maintained site provided an opportunity to reflect on the immense impact that D-Day and the Second World War had on this region of France.

In the afternoon, we travelled to Arromanches, where the girls learned about the Allied liberation of France through visits to the fascinating D-Day Museum and the impressive 360° Cinema. Watching authentic footage from 6 June 1944 surrounded by panoramic screens brought history vividly to life. The girls particularly loved the immersive cinema experience. Afterwards, there was time to explore the town, practise ordering in French and pick up a few souvenirs. Some came back wearing French berets and others had bought French-ship bracelets. The weather was warm but misty with a gentle sea breeze – a reminder of how different conditions must have been for those landing on the beaches over eighty years ago.

Day three was all about putting French into practice. The girls enjoyed browsing the bustling market at Courseulles-sur-Mer, confidently using their French to speak with local stallholders. Later, we visited the breathtaking Mont Saint-Michel. Blessed with glorious sunshine, we climbed to the abbey and were rewarded with spectacular views across the bay. After dinner back at the hotel, we finished the day with a peaceful walk along the beach as we watched the sun set over the sea—a truly magical end to the day.

Our final morning took us to Caen, where we explored the impressive castle built by William the Conqueror. Madame Beckerman once again delighted everyone with her fascinating historical insights, bringing the site to life. There was also one last opportunity for the girls to use their French independently as they bought souvenirs and snacks.

Throughout the trip, the girls represented the school exceptionally well. They embraced every opportunity to speak French, demonstrated genuine curiosity about French history and culture, and supported one another with enthusiasm and kindness. It was a memorable few days filled with learning, laughter and experiences that will stay with them for years to come.

Here’s what two of our Year 8s said about the trip:

Erin

I really enjoyed going on the French trip because we did lots of very fun activities while we were there. We left on Wednesday to take a ferry to Normandy which I found extremely fun, especially looking out of the boat and admiring the sea with friends. However, arriving there was even better as we did so much sightseeing and spent so much time exploring with others. Throughout the entire time, we visited lots of fascinating sights in Normandy. On Thursday, we went to museums and visited the D-Day graves which were so informative and I didn’t previously know many facts about them. I especially enjoyed the 360 movie we saw, which was extremely engaging. We visited multiple towns and bought souvenirs. I especially liked the ice cream, which I had every single day. It was particularly delicious in the Mont- Saint Michel Castle, which we visited on Friday. The castle had beautiful views and it was nice to learn about the history of it, although the tourist spots were quite expensive! We also visited a market and I bought some sausages (which was super tasty) and some bracelets. On the last night of the trip, we had kids champagne and celebrated our amazing experience on the trip. I loved being near the beach and playing games on the sand- my clothes got so sandy! My dorm got a prize for being the cleanest! Overall, the experience was so amazing- I wish I could go back again!

Elle

I found the French trip incredibly fun as we did a lot of sightseeing during our time in Normandy. However, I think that travelling to these places might have been the best part of the trip. On the way to France, we took a ferry for around 6 hours, and it was so entertaining. I feel as if spending time with everybody all the time has made my friendships even closer, even with people I never really talked to before. It felt like we were like a family for a few days! I learnt a lot about World War II and D-Day through the museums and the movies that we saw. I was not very educated on the topic before the trip, but I know a lot more now. I especially enjoyed going to the market to practice our French and of course, buy some things! It was a brilliant experience and I wouldn’t have done anything to change it. When we visited one castle, I had the most amazing ice cream! I probably ate my body weight in ice cream across the whole trip, but this one definitely stood out to me. The views from this castle were stunning, and I enjoyed taking photos with my friends’ camera! I loved buying the local food from the markets, and our “French-trip” (sounds like friendship) bracelets! At the last dinner, we were given children’s champagne and reminisced about our amazing experience. I loved it so much and I wish that we could have stayed there longer.