Chateau Beaumont

What will students see and do?

Château Beaumont offers a fun and engaging school trip experience with opportunities to take in the culture of Normandy life, learn about language and history, and take part in a range of sports.

Both French and English students take classes concurrently, learning from one another and expanding their worldview. English students will practise their French in real-life settings during visits to farms, markets, and shops, where they’ll have the chance to interact with native French speakers.

Alongside language education, students will be able to engage in fun extracurricular activities like swimming and fencing. These character-building enrichment activities not only reward students with fun after their studies, but also expand their horizons.

Outdoor learning has been proven to enhance both physical and social development, all while giving students the chance to practise their French skills.

Students will also have the opportunity to explore the idyllic French countryside, experience French culture, and learn about the history of France during their Château Beaumont school trip. The site is close to a number of historical sites, including:

– Fougères, the largest medieval castle in Europe
– Le Mont Saint-Michel, a Benedictine abbey atop a small island
– Saint Malo, an ancient city by the French seaside

Other excursions include day trips to farms and markets. There, students will be able to enjoy French delicacies like freshly-made goat cheese, artisan bread, oysters, and more. This is a great way for students to take in French culture while helping them further hone their French language skills.

How does the trip link to the curriculum?

The staff at Château Beaumont are equipped to help educators tailor the trip to National Curriculum requirements in both French language and history.

School trips to France tie in extensively with the national curriculum standards. A trip to Château Beaumont would be most suitable for students in KS2 and KS3.

Students should be able to “understand and respond to spoken and written language from a variety of authentic sources.” It goes without saying that a trip to Château Beaumont fits these parameters. Students will speak French both during activities and excursions.

Château Beaumont’s location makes it ideal for connections to the history curriculum as well. Day trips to Arromanches will teach students about WWII, with opportunities to visit several museums and historical sites. During excursions to Bayeux, students can visit the famous Bayeux Tapestry, the cathedral and the largest war cemetery in Normandy.

Subjects covered

Details of risk assessment

The premises at Château Beaumont have been hosting students since 1996, and are registered with several security and safety organisations. These include:

– Prefecture de Laval, the police, fire, and technical authorities
– Departement de la Jeunesse et Sports, a group of social workers specialising in children
– BAPA, the British Activity Providers Association
– AAIAC, the Adventure Activities Industry Advisory Committee
– Local authorities
– LOtC (Learning Outside the Classroom) Quality Badge

Student and teacher accommodations are protected by keypads. Safety instructions and fire drills are performed upon arrival.

Any activity equipment is inspected regularly on a weekly basis.
Activity staff are thoroughly trained and are required to undergo extensive in-house training. The Château staff also includes a first-aid team should any visitor need their services.

PLANNING

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