Exploring Normandy: A Week of Discovery for Year 6

The Year 6 girls from Royal High Prep School enjoyed a fantastic week on their residential trip to Normandy - a week packed with new experiences, challenges and plenty of laughter.

One of the standout moments was their visit to a traditional goat farm, where they learnt how goat’s cheese is made from start to finish. They were captivated by the process and delighted to try their hand at milking a very patient goat before tasting the cheese for themselves.

The girls also took on a town trail around Avranches, following directions written entirely in French. What began as a slightly daunting task quickly became a confidence‑boosting triumph. With farm staff and tour leaders speaking only French (supported by plenty of expressive gestures), the girls’ willingness to have a go grew each day. They put their new language skills to the test at a local market, where they were given money to buy fillings for their baguettes. Faced with a long queue for jambon, some showed impressive initiative and headed straight for the homemade jam stall instead.

A windswept visit to the medieval island of Mont‑Saint‑Michel was another highlight. Home to 26 monks, and many tourists, its ancient streets and extraordinary history made a lasting impression as the girls explored its winding pathways.

Back at the centre, they enjoyed making their own French bread for lunch, followed by an energetic afternoon of archery and aeroball, rounded off with an evening swim in the pool.

Throughout the trip, the girls made us incredibly proud. Their excellent behaviour was praised by several passers‑by, but even more impressive was their resilience, independence and growing confidence. What began with a little hesitation soon turned into genuine enthusiasm. They embraced every opportunity, returning home full of stories - and with a real sense of achievement.