Bulmershe Year 8 Students Enjoy a “Magnifique” Cultural Trip to France

At The Bulmershe School, we believe in bringing learning to life - and that’s exactly what happened on our recent Year 8 French trip to Boulogne-sur-Mer. Just before half term, 40 enthusiastic students set off at 3am on a cross-channel adventure, packed with cultural enrichment, language immersion and plenty of fun.

After a smooth ferry crossing from Dover to Calais, students arrived in Boulogne-sur-Mer, a beautiful coastal town in northern France. Their first challenge? Navigating French shops and markets, putting their language skills into practice to buy souvenirs, fresh baguettes and delicious treats. The local community were very welcoming, giving our students a real chance to experience everyday French life.

One of the most memorable parts of the trip was a hands-on breadmaking workshop at a traditional boulangerie. Delivered entirely in French, this session tested our students’ listening skills, but they rose to the challenge. Their reward? Freshly baked bread and a huge sense of accomplishment.

Back at the chateau, the group were treated to a classic dinner - fish and chips with a twist: escargots (snails) for the brave! Many students surprised themselves by trying something completely new.

Saturday brought more opportunities to practise their French during a supermarket visit, followed by a full afternoon of thrills at Bagatelle theme park. The sunshine held, the rides were exciting, and a colourful musical parade brought the visit to a joyful close.

Throughout the trip, our students showed curiosity, confidence and fantastic behaviour. They embraced new experiences, developed their independence and returned home with treasured memories - and stronger language skills.

Here's some feedback from the students who went:

• It was a great experience to go on, there were many different things do I, I really enjoyed it.
• Le voyage en France était trés bien! C'est une bonne experience et le bonheur pour tout le monde.
• I tried snails for the first time and they were delicious.
• 11/10! Unrivalled fun! Absolutely Amazing!
• I liked exploring the old town - the walled section of Boulogne.
• It was great to experience classic French culture.
• I didn't see any berets!
• J'ai appris à faire du pain et j'ai mangé des escargots.
• The trip was really fun because there was always something to do.  

We’re incredibly proud of them all. A huge merci to Mme Gardiner for her brilliant organisation, and to Mme Raoult, Mr Tomas and Mrs Morgan for their support. Trips like this are part of what makes Bulmershe so special - offering students the chance to see the world, broaden their horizons and become truly global citizens.