Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College and Collège Michelet (Lisieux), September 2024

From the 19th to the 22nd of September 2024, students from Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College embarked on a fun and exciting trip to Normandy. It was a whirlwind of activities, new friendships, and plenty of learning along the way!

Making Friends at Collège Michelet
The trip kicked off with a visit to Collège Michelet in Lisieux, where students got the chance to take part in language activities with French students. It wasn’t just about practicing their French—they had loads of fun getting to know their French peers and learning about each other’s school life. After a tasty canteen lunch, the group headed off to Château Guillaume-le-Conquérant for a fascinating tour of the medieval castle, packed with history about William the Conqueror.

Exploring Normandy’s Highlights
The next day was all about exploring! The students visited the stunning Basilica of Saint Thérèse, where they climbed to the top of the dome for incredible views over Lisieux. After some free time to enjoy the local shops and cafés, they spent the afternoon at Festyland, Normandy’s biggest amusement park. From thrilling rides to fun games, it was a fantastic way to end the day.

By the end of the trip, the students had made new friends, explored Normandy’s rich history, and enjoyed plenty of adventure along the way. It was the perfect balance of learning, fun, and friendship!

Thank you so much for a lovely trip, the pupils really enjoyed it and it was so well planned. You couldn’t have done any more for us. Our pupils have been exposed to such a wide range of experiences that will stay with them for life. The trip really helped some of our more reserved pupils to build confidence and make new friends, watching them grow and have fun on the trip was so lovely for us teachers to witness.

They particularly enjoyed Festyland and the visit to Jules Michélet school. Laetitia was brilliant and we hope to continue our school link with her, I will be in touch with her soon regarding a pen-pal scheme and a potential visit to us at BTH in the future.

We will certainly be coming back next year.

Claire Ludlow, Head of French, Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College, 23rd September 2024