QE boys were the toast of the town during a new exchange with a school in France.
Thirteen boys from Years 8 and 9 took part in the week-long French exchange with Collège St-Pierre in Bourg-en-Bresse, near Lyon.
QE Teacher of French Océane Jullien, a former pupil at Collège St-Pierre, said: "During this exchange, the first of hopefully many to come, the boys were warmly welcomed by their host family, the French school and were even honoured at a welcome ceremony in the town hall."
In course of their stay, they enjoyed an intensive immersion into French life. The boys discovered the secrets of wine-making, explored the historical towns of Bourg-en-Bresse and Lyon and shopped at a traditional French market. They also experienced a typical day in a French school, which involved some cycling and a game of Ultimate Frisbee.
Their visit to the ‘salon d’honneur’ in the town hall, where they were each presented with a special information booklet, was reported in Le Progrès, the Lyon area’s daily newspaper.
"The boys were praised for their effort in speaking French, so it came as no surprise when they greeted the English passport control officer in French on our return to London!" said Ms Jullien. "They’re now looking forward to receiving their exchange partners in London on 14th October."