After the first shy meeting, some smiles and shaking hands, the French children headed off to their host families.

On Friday, they spent the morning at school and were impressed by the Science lessons and by the experiments they made! Then they had lunch before heading off for Berkhamsted Castle followed by shopping in town and buying some tea and baked beans for their families.

Saturday was a bright sunny day.  The English and French students went together to visit Windsor, went on a boat trip, waving and saying hello to passers-by along the river, and taking ‘thousands’ of pictures.

English anf French students at Windsor

On Sunday, the English families entertained the French partner who was able to enjoy a leisurely day. On Monday, the French pupils went to London with their teachers while the English stayed in school! The French took a bus tour, and strolled through Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Piccadilly and Covent Garden where they shopped again before visiting the Tower of London, admiring the Crown Jewels, taking pictures of the famous “Beefeaters” and ‘enjoyed seeing’ the various torture devices in the White and Bloody Towers!

The first part of the exchange finished on Tuesday, at the end of sports day. The French students will now look forward to welcoming their English partners, some of whom have decided they will go and visit their partners this summer, even before the second part of the exchange in October.

I have organised this first part of the exchange, with the help of Carolyn Moss and the teachers in Lille, to welcome the French children to Berkhamsted.  This has been enormous work but it has been rewarding as children on both sides have been great and committed and the friendships that have developed have been a pleasure to see. I would also like to thank again all the host families for all their commitment, meeting the various times and entertaining their French host. I am now back to France but hope this exchange will last between our two schools as this is a special experience for pupils to meet a friend of another country and try to speak the language they are learning!

Sophie Frappé