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French students in England: 4^th July to 18^th July 2025

English students in France: 22^nd July to 4^th August 2025

The exchange is organised by the Association Bordeaux-Bristol, 13, Quai de la Monnaie, 33800 BORDEAUX, France. The Association is acknowledged as conforming to educational and safety requirements by the Rectorat de l’Académie de Bordeaux (Schools Education Board for the Bordeaux and Aquitaine region).

The exchange is aimed at schoolchildren between the ages of 14 and 18. Schools from Bristol and the surrounding area can take part, as can schools in Bordeaux and Aquitaine; applicants from Arcachon, Bayonne and the Landes are eligible too, hence the name of the exchange:  Echanges Scolaires Bordeaux-Aquitaine-Bristol.

Application form

Application forms and information can be downloaded directly from our website: www.bordeaux-bristol.fr under the tab “Exchanges/ Apply here”. Parents should complete them online if possible for the sake of legibility. We suggest you consider each section carefully with your child before filling it in. Once you have completed the form, print it, sign it and give it to your child’s French teacher for a comment and signature. It should also be signed by the head teacher so do allow time for that.

It takes time to examine all files so please return all as soon as possible.

Once signed, you should send all the required documents to our local coordinator: Mrs Nell Dand (see How to fill in an application form) . Don’t wait for the deadline of

19^th December 2024 for us to start the pairing.

There are no mixed exchanges: girls exchange with girls, boys with boys.

Your child is expected to be present throughout the French exchange partner’s stay. If you know that he/she will be away unavoidably for a day or so (on the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme for example), please let us know well in advance.

Information meetings

Meetings will take place via Zoom before the period of exchange so that the organisers can introduce themselves and the accompanying staff, explain how it all works and answer any questions parents and participants may have. You will also be given details concerning the trip itself, information relating to the stay and useful recommendations, along with the accompanying teachers’ names and contact details. If you have any queries before that do not hesitate to email us on echanges@bordeaux-bristol.fr or our coordinator in Bristol, Nell Dand on dandrichards7@gmail.com 

Please note that parents on both sides are asked to provide a DBS check (= Extrait du casier judiciaire) and that we complete a full risk assessment. Some or all of the French pupils’ stay may take place in term time so Bristol schools may have their own requirements; however, all see the educational benefits of the exchange.

Accompanying teachers

The accompanying teachers are each in charge of a group of students. All are current or retired teachers from the Bristol area and speak fluent French. They are available to parents and students at all times and can be called whenever a difficulty occurs or there are problems of communication. Similarly, French teachers stay in Bristol while the French group is here and can be called on by your French guests or by you if you need help, advice or clarification. You can ask them to visit you at home if needed.

Updated: 2024/10/05…………………..