Avonbourne School
A Business & Enterprise College
Avonbourne & Cholet celebrate
20 years of cultural exchanges
AVONBOURNE pupils and their friends on the ‘other side of the channel’ are celebrating nearly 20 years of cultural exchanges – along with a handful of grateful ducks.
In the two decades that the Bournemouth school has arranged exchanges with a school in Cholet, Western France, more than a thousand Dorset youngsters and their families have been involved.
And in the last few years some of the Avonbourne girls put their pocket money together to save some baby ducks on sale at Cholet’s weekend market, which were destined for the cooking pot.
“There have been some great stories over the years," said Avonbourne teacher, Mike Shapcott, who organises the British side of the exchanges.
“There was an English mum who found a week’s supply of packed lunches under the French student’s bed after she had returned to France.
“It was easier to hide the evidence and smile, rather than explain in halting English she didn’t like Marmite sandwiches."
Every year some 45 French students and 35 Avonbourne students spend a week each in their respective countries. The idea is for the youngsters to have a whole family experience in their host country soaking up both culture and language – even if assisted with a dictionary and phrase book. Mike says he’s seen the exchanges change during the years.
“Mobile phones have made our job a lot harder," he said. “When there was no contact with mum or dad, girls just got on with things.
“These days, a few are in constant contact and home sickness problems are made much worse. The majority though, just get stuck in. Safety concerns are uppermost in people’s minds these days. Years ago the students simply asked us questions about the adventures they would have. But of course now, we risk assess all of the activities that we intend to do before leaving home."
And some of the English and French students keep in contact following their visits. This year Avonbourne’s chair of governors is accompanying the trip. She hopes to visit the patisserie in Cholet where her own daughter stayed as a member of the exchange more than ten years ago.
Nathalie Landreau is Mike’s opposite number in France organising the exchanges.
“She is fantastic and we couldn’t have done this all these years without her," said Mike.
