Sixth formers from a Devon school have won themselves and their teacher a free trip to Paris - and a chance to grill our politicians on the future of Europe. The group of A-level French students from Kelly College in Tavistock, Devon, were judged winners in a competition run by European Study Tours and The TES last September.
Their prize, worth pound;4,500, includes return tickets on Eurostar, two nights’ accommodation in Paris and a conference entitled Your Future In Europe. To win, students had to explain in no more than 100 words why they deserved the prize.
Kelly College’s winning entry stood out because of its originality. As well as their written entry, they recorded a song in French and sent it in on cassette. “It made me laugh so much I thought it’s got to be a winner,” said Brendan Jones, managing director of European Study Tours. The sixth formers devised their competition entry in a lesson the afternoon before the deadline. “We didn’t have any trips planned and they wanted a trip to France, so we thought why not?” says newly qualified French teacher Rachel Morel. “I’m into competitions so I encouraged them to enter, though it was a very last minute entry. They managed to pen something very quickly. Then at the end of the lesson they rushed off to the music suite.”
“The whole class are going on to study languages so they’re really looking forward to the trip. It’s a combination of end of exams and a chance to get over to France. ”
Your Future In Europe is a full-day’s seminar in Paris, designed to give A, AS, and AVCEGCSE students an insight into the European Union. Speakers include presenter of children’s TV’s Newsround Kate Sanderson and John Bruton, former Prime Minister of Ireland and expert on the Euro. Students will also have the chance to quiz a Question Time-style panel of MPs, including Chief Secretary to the Treasury Paul Boateng, Liberal Democrat shadow Home Secretary Simon Hughes MP, and Tory MEP Jacqueline Foster.
For more information see www.euro-study-tours.co.uk
Martin Whittaker
