The exchange is a family-to family exchange for students of secondary school age.

Students fill out a detailed application form and are carefully matched with an exchange partner in Bordeaux and the Aquitaine area of France. The French students spend two weeks in England at Easter and then the English students go to France to stay for two weeks in the Summer. Students are supported by accompanying teachers who travel with the groups and stay in the local area.

This exchange scheme celebrated its 60^th Anniversary in 2007 and the exchanges began in 1947 when students from Fairfield Grammar School in Bristol visited Bordeaux and French students in Bordeaux returned to Bristol in the same year. In 1947 27 students took part in the exchange and since then an exchange has taken place almost every year with thousands of participants and lifelong friendships forming between young people from Bristol’s first twin city. In the 1970s over 1,000 students travelled in each direction for the exchange.

This is different from many other school trips as it provides the opportunity to really improve your language skills as well as gaining a lot of insights into the French culture and way of life.

Try to talk to some of the students who have taken part as they will be able to tell you how their French improved and how much they gained from taking part in the scheme.