La Vacquerie

In 1993, Sunningdale bought a manoir in Normandy, about 20 minutes from Bayeux. The house had not been lived in for 25 years. It was completely restored and now comprises a large house with a converted barn and about seven acres of land.

The boys go out for a week at a time and the aim is to bring the language they learn in the classroom to life. While they are there they take part in a wide range of activities.

Each day starts with a lesson during which the boys are introduced to the language they will need during the day. They then set off for a variety of activities which includes:

• A visit to a local market
• The Bayeux Tapestry
• D-Day landing beaches and museums
• World War II cemeteries
• Local towns
• Local farms and small businesses
• Lunch is usually taken as a picnic between visits.
• The day ends with another lesson before a trip to the beach to unwind before a more formal supper where the boys are encouraged to speak as much French as possible.

This is a fantastic opportunity for the boys to practice their French in real life situations and they see the whole thing as a bit of a holiday. They hardly realise they are learning!