The International Languages Department is delighted to be able to offer students the opportunity to take part in a residential trip to Château de la Baudonnière in Normandy, France on 27/03/26 – 31/03/26. This trip is open to all pupils studying French from year groups 7 and 9 and GCSE pupils in Year 10/11.
The trip will provide an exclusive opportunity for students to discover how their studies can be used in real life contexts and to appreciate the differences in foreign culture first-hand. The trip will be led by a full team of native French ‘animateurs’, who will get students speaking French at every opportunity in a fun, supportive and interactive way. The Château’s extensive grounds provide the perfect environment for students to improve their language skills and confidence, through a range of on-site activities all taught in French and every meal presented in French. The unique programme encourages students to listen and practise their French from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave, whether it’s working together to build a raft, canoeing, climbing, bread making or taking part in everyone’s firm favourite, the market mission.
We will be staying at Château de la Baudonnière in Normandy, 90 minutes south of Cherbourg. Students stay in gender-specific en-suite bunk rooms in accommodation blocks throughout the Château grounds.
The cost of the trip will be £550 (based on a minimum group of 40 students). This price includes all meals whilst staying in the Château’ and all excursioncosts. The price does not include personal expenditure and drinks (except water) with meals.
As a summary, the trip includes:
- 4 nights 5 days full board accommodation at the Château de la Baudonnière
- School to School transport
- Return ferry crossings
- A team of full-time native French-speaking animateurs to lead activities, accompany the group on visits and evening entertainment each night
- A wide range of on-site day/evening activities. Some activities offered are: la grande trouvaille (treasure hunt), le mur (climbing wall), aéroballe (unique trampoline-basketball-volleyball game), parcours de santé (fitness trails/circuit competitions), photomystère (scavenger hunt), jeux d’initiative (quizzes), fabrication du pain (bread making), (mini-ferme (farm experience), escrime (climbing), radeaux (rafts), canoë (canoeing), tournoi de sport (sports competitions), soirée française et quizz (French-themed evening and quiz)
- ‘Market mission’ where pupils will be tasked with buying food in French
- Visit to Mont Saint-Michel
- Trip to the ‘Château de Caen’
- Trip to the ‘Cimetière Américain’
- French language workbooks
- School travel insurance
- 24/7 emergency support line
Places are initially limited to 40 students and the trip will be offered on a first-come first-served basis. The non-refundable deposit of £100 to secure a place on this trip will open on Wednesday 1st October 2025 and close on Wednesday 8th October 2025. Those unsuccessful in securing a place will be placed on the reserve list. All payments for this trip will be taken electronically on iPay.
Details of school iPay system: choose your child’s Fund Name – Château de la Baudonnière, Normandy
Conduct/Behaviour – please note that if your child/children’s conduct/attendance in school falls below expectations leading up to the trip, we reserve the right to withdraw them. We also ask for parents/carers full support in ensuring that during the school trip, your child/children will accept all rules, regulations and sanctions as detailed in the school rules.
Pupils will receive letters over the course of the academic year which will contain all the necessary information and all payment dates. All letters distributed will also be placed on the school website for your reference.
The payment plan for the remaining payments is as follows:
| Date | Amount |
| October 1st | £100 |
| November 1st | £100 |
| December 1st | £50 |
| January 5th | £150 |
| February 2nd | £150 |
It will be an excellent experience for all ages and pupils and as a department, we are very much looking forward to this exciting trip.
PLEASE NOTE PUPILS MUST HAVE THEIR OWN PASSPORTS with at least 6 months before expiry.
For more information, please contact Mrs R. John, Head of International Langauages at Gowerton School.