After many successful study visits to Paris, the French department, a little weary of the Stade de France, decided to aim high – literally – with our new Year 9 tour to the lakes and mountains of Switzerland.

The lovely city of Geneva provided a great base for the trip and allowed for a full-day excursion to Chamonix in France where the boys were treated to an exciting cable-car journey to the Aiguille du Midi summit at 3842 metres. Those not  content with admiring the spectacular views over the Alps dared to take a “step into the void”, a glass box suspended over the side of the peak.

With their feet firmly back on the ground in Chamonix’s picturesque centre, the boys followed a town trail in French and made enquiries at the local tourist office. Further high points, albeit at lower altitudes, were visits to Lausanne’s Olympic museum and to the stunning lakeside Château de Chillon in Montreux. The boys’ enthusiasm and hard work during French lessons at the youth hostel were rewarded with trips to a bowling alley and to a superb water park. Many thanks to Mrs Dewar for organising such an enjoyable trip that enabled the boys to improve their French and to discover a beautiful part of Europe.

Mr Maddocks, Head of French