Paris - what a trip

Report by Mr Andy Watters, Lead Teacher for Geography

Fifty pupils from all of our year groups set off from school last Tuesday night. 

We all settled to a good night’s sleep as we journeyed straight through to Disneyland, arriving as the huge park opened. Using ‘Fast Passes’ our pupils got on as many as 12 different rides, regularly met up for meals and the amazing new Disney parade. We were lucky with the weather and stayed ‘til the park closed to watch the most fantastic light and fireworks display. Many pupils voted that as a huge highlight of their trip.  The Hawaiian Surf blue hoodies were both really smart and a great way to easily identify our pupils in the crowds. 

We managed a full night’s sleep at the hotel. The pupils and staff really appreciated the en-suite bathrooms with power showers. A cooked breakfast strengthened both body and soul as we had a very full and detailed itinerary for a day in Paris. 

We started the day with a trip up to our first viewing point at the Sacre Couer, the marble basilica overlooking Paris. What amazing views as Paris is not blighted by the usual mass of city centre high rises.  We centred into the Isle de la Citie, where we were able to get a better view of the Notre Dame Cathedral from the Bateaux Mouches river cruise as our planned route was closed due to fears of the cathedral’s poor condition after the tragedy of the fire the previous week. We managed a great walk along the River Seine taking in the sites and sights. I think the pupils really enjoyed their street food adventure in the Latin Quarter. It is amazing just how many combinations of different food types our pupils could wrap into a crepe! - “Why don’t they do Butter pies, sir?”

A real highlight was our later afternoon trip up the Eiffel Tower. I am glad we took the lift up and down! A few pupils felt it was necessary to hang onto the sides however what a safe building despite being so high. The clouds cleared to give us such an amazing vantage point. Paris looking splendid bathed in dappled sunlight. 

We managed to cram even more in. We ate at a typically busy restaurant on the Champs-Elysees. They catered for everyone, a four course banquet or a chicken and chips; whatever the pupils fancied. After a quick look at shops we couldn’t even afford the shopping bag from we travelled across Paris to Montparnasse. The fastest lift in Europe meant the 56th floor was reached in just a few seconds. With ears popped we had fantastic night time photos of the twinkling lights across Paris. Yes, Paris does remain a romantic, beautiful city!

Another night at the hotel and all slept like logs. A slightly later get up was much appreciated. We set off fully packed and had a selection of sing-along movies to either sleep or sing with. Our driver, Dave, of AVA Coaches was a dream to work with. I want to thank our staff who joined me on the trip; Mrs Holland; the newly married Mrs Willis, Mrs Clementson and our newest appointment in English, Miss Smith whom was a real star, Miss Walsh from the Geography department and Miss Pearson who had been with the PE department last term and came back to help. 

The weekend rest was needed by staff who are just superb and quietly got on with helping pupils, many of whom had never been abroad or in a few cases never slept away from home. Keeping pupils going when they are a tad tired is a real skill. Thank you to each of them. 

The pupils managed a couple of hours of retail therapy at a tourist supermarket. We were able to give the pupils a lot of extra spending money as we had organised our Euros and finances very carefully, thanks especially going to the silent heroine in the office Mrs Cookson. 

We had great return sailings from Dover to Calais.  I even managed to get in a few bits of extra Geography about the White cliffs of Dover! 

Despite a couple of M6 closures we got back just on midnight. Everyone well and very tired however very very happy. 

We are off to Italy later in June, Duke of Edinburgh in July with Year 11 and are fully booked for the Iceland trip in 2020. There are just a few places left for the London and Paris combined trip for 2020. 

Thank you to our pupils who were an absolute credit to the school, parents and Preston.