In the early hours of October 13^th 2010, 34 students accompanied by 4 members of staff set off on the Academy's first educational residential abroad to the Loire Valley in France for 3 nights. Students were waved off from the Academy by parents as they set off on the 18 hour coach trip to the north-east of France. The trip was made more comfortable by the onboard DVD player in the coach where students watched a selection of films. The coach made good time on the way down south, changing drivers in Northampton before arriving at the Port of Dover and boarding an early morning ferry to France. For some students this was their first experience on a ferry and even their first trip to France.

Arriving in France at 9am, we started on the long journey south west, making a few stops for refreshments before heading through Paris shortly before stopping for lunch where students got some fresh air and had a bite to eat. The coach then set off on the final leg before arriving at Hotel de la Tour Saint Antoine, in the picturesque town of Loches at around 6pm. Students were allocated a room and a little time to themselves before sitting down to a meal before an early night ready for the a busy day of exploration the next day.

Day two, started at 7am, with students up and ready for a continental French breakfast before boarding the coach for the relatively short journey to the picturesque town of Tours. Here students explored the town, visited shops and tasted French cuisine experiencing the French lifestyle for themselves. They were given time to go off in groups and encouraged to communicate in French with the locals using the skills and phrases that they have been taught in their lessons back at the Academy.

Later on in the day students visited Aquarium of Val de Loire where they could stroke Coy Carp, see giant Cat Fish, crocodiles and tropical fish before visiting Caves Champignonnieres des Roches, a unique mushroom cave in the heart of the Loire Valley. Here students visited the family run business, the only one still remaining in France, and got to see on the guided tour how traditionally mushrooms were grown in the idyllic damp, humid conditions the limestone caves of the region offer.

Students later visited a large French supermarket and were given a list of items in English that they had to search the store for and find out the French name for them as part of the quiz that they would be participating in later that evening back at the hotel. Students learnt the different variety of foods that are available to purchase such as horse meat, whole raw cows tongues and an abundance of cheeses and fruit and vegetables. Later on in the evening after dinner, students in their groups participated in a fun quiz testing the knowledge on what they had learnt that day with the winning group winning a prize for the whole team.

Day three in France started off early again with a trip further south close to the town of Poitiers to the Futuroscope theme park for a day on the rides. Futuroscope is a theme park which uses the latest technologies to thrill riders using images in giant-screen 3D and 4D format, with breathtaking shows and interactive adventures that will delight all of your senses. Here students practically had the run of the theme park with there being hardly anyone there so queuing was never an issue! Students had a fabulous time and were able to go on the rides time after time.

Day four saw the end of the trip and the start of the return journey back to Droylsden with students left to reflect on the rare experience. The trip was a great success on all levels with Mr Ribot, Curriculum Leader of MFL saying, "This experience allowed students to raise their cultural awareness and speak some French during their journey. This trip to Loire Valley will hopefully have transformed students learning and will remain an unforgettable memory. In every case, it delivered the outcomes of Every Child Matters raising standards of feeling valued as a person."

Students were a real credit to the Academy and made staff very proud to be their teachers. Their instant feedback stating how much they enjoyed it has been greatly received by staff with another trip being organised for early 2011 to the Normandy region of France.

Photos and a video slideshow of the trip can now be found online.