Six Year 12 students had the opportunity to spend a week at the Lycée Barthou – a 6th Form college in Pau in the south-west of France. 

Most of the week was spent in school attending lessons with their French partners in a variety of subjects – including ones never studied before! The students enjoyed contrasting the many differences in the English and French education systems as well as speaking and listening to lots of French. They also enjoyed trying French school food at the canteen. 

During the week they spent afternoons on a guided tour of the castle (the birthplace of Henri IV in 1553) as well as the town’s art museum. We also visited the wonderful Avenue des Pyrénées which has a fabulous view of the mountains on a sunny day – although they had to wait four days for the skies to clear! 

At the weekend the students spent time with their families. Some visited the Pyrenees and others the Basque Country as well as coming together for group events such as Laser Tag and a pizza night. 

Everyone had a wonderful time, and they are busily arranging for their partners to come to England and to school in July at the end of term.