We are very excited to announce plans for a forthcoming visit to France in 2017 for our Year 8 students studying French this year.

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1 October 2016 Dear Parent / Carer YEAR 8 VISIT TO FRANCE, 29th JUNE - 3rd July 2017 We are very excited to announce plans for a forthcoming visit to France in 2017 for our Year 8 students studying French this year. We are planning a residential visit to Chateau de la Baudonnière in Normandy. Your son or daughter will have the opportunity to take part in some of the activities provided and organised by the Chateau which may include; archery, wall climbing, canoeing, an assault course, orienteering, fencing, circus skills, mountain biking and bread making. In addition there are excursions to the surrounding area visiting places such as Le Mont St Michel. The fully qualified staff at the Chateau are all native French speakers and this opportunity will undoubtedly increase your son/daughter s linguistic competence and confidence as he/she will experience French language and culture first hand. Five members of staff will accompany students on the visit. We estimate the cost of the visit based on 45 students taking part at per student. This cost will include all travel costs, 3 nights full board accommodation, meals en-route, excursions, entrance fees and insurance. Your son/daughter will need to bring some snacks and drinks for the outward journey bottled water will be provided. Personal spending money is not included. The outward and return journey to France will be by coach and ferry (Portsmouth/Caen). An initial deposit of is required to take part and is non-refundable once your son/daughter is allocated a place. As places will be limited if there is an overwhelming response then names may have to be drawn out of a hat and deposits returned to unsuccessful students. Passports Your son/daughter will need to travel on his/her own passport which will need at least 6 months validity beyond the date of the visit. If your son/daughter does not hold a EU/UK passport we will require a copy of his/her valid passport so that we can apply for a visa waiver from the British Council for him/her to travel on a school visit. If you have any queries regarding passports please do not hesitate to contact us as soon as possible. School Visit Insurance Please find attached an extract from our insurance policy regarding travelling against medical advice / pre-existing medical conditions. European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) Your son/daughter will need a valid EHIC card to travel. Although we will have travel insurance in place it is conditional on a valid EHIC card being available should it be necessary to seek medical attention in France. It is the responsibility of parents/carers to ensure that their son/daughter holds a valid passport and EHIC card to travel. Please complete the details on the attached slip.

2 Near to the date of travel we will require copies of passports and EHIC cards. YEAR 8 AND 9 VISIT TO FRANCE 29 JUNE- 3rd July 2017 Organising staff will seek advice from tutors and the Learning Manager before allocating any student a place on a visit. It should be stressed that the allocation of places is at the discretion of the Learning Manager and organising staff, who must feel confident that each student will act positively. We would like to advise parents that participating in any visit is a commitment. Please note that refunds on any payments made cannot be offered when students change their minds about attending trips. Bookings and costs are worked out based upon initial numbers and therefore, in order to be fair to other students and to keep the cost to a minimum, we need to use the original number of places booked as our basis for the cost of the trip. Please be aware that you will be required to pay the full cost of the visit if you cancel once your son/daughter has been allocated a place (even if a replacement can be found). If you would like your son/daughter to take part, please complete the slip on page 3 together with the attached parental consent form and code of conduct, returning them to me in the languages department. Your deposit and further payments for this visit should be made direct to school via ParentPay. If you have any queries or need assistance to activate your account please contact our Finance Department. Please return your forms and make your deposit payment as soon as possible, but no later than Friday 4 th November During the course of the visit photos/video may be taken of students working on various activities. These may be used in publications, reports and/or other promotional media including the school website. Images may also be used for marketing purposes internally or externally and may be shared with appropriate organisations such as the local press or professional journals. I would be grateful if you would complete the section on the reply slip. If in the meantime you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. We will organise an information evening for parents and students about the visit at Tile Hill Wood and we will notify you of the details as soon as this has been arranged. We will of course keep you and your son/daughter informed on the progress of arrangements and details. Yours faithfully Ms A Parrott Subject Leader for French

3 Cancellation Policy The following applies to all cancellations: Deposit of is non-refundable if your son/daughter is allocated a place. The full cost of the visit is payable if you cancel once your son/daughter has been allocated a place (even if a replacement can be found). The cost of the visit will be payable as follows: Deposit of payable by Friday 4 th November payable by Friday 9 th December payable by Friday 3 rd February payable by Friday 31st March 2017.

4 School Visit Insurance Below is a copy of an extract from our insurance policy Please take time to read the details regarding travelling against medical advice / pre-existing medical conditions. If this applies to your son/daughter a letter would be required prior to departure (we can provide a pro-forma letter to assist you / your doctor with this process). Travelling Against Medical Advice Guidance Notes In line with many Travel insurance policies, Zurich has an exclusion in its Business Travel and School Journey policies referring to travel against medical advice, usually stating the following: 5. Travelling Against Medical Advice excluding any expenses incurred if an Insured Person is travelling or intending to travel against the advice of a Medical Practitioner We strongly recommend that if there is any doubt over a current or recent medical condition that the traveller visits their doctor to make sure they are fit to travel and are not invalidating their cover. This will help to avoid potential difficulties should the need to claim arise later for cancellation, or sickness happening during the trip. Fit to travel implies that during the trip the medical condition is unlikely to create the need for medical attention or other additional costs (such as emergency evacuation or visit of a relative) that would ordinarily qualify as a claim under the policy. The traveller should get a written statement from their GP or other medical practitioner at most 7 days before the trip starts stating that they are fit to travel having regard to (a) the condition itself and (b) the following features of the trip : destination activities duration methods of travel The traveller should tell the medical professional that the required statement is for specific insurance purposes and that it may be relied upon to substantiate the validity of a Medical Expenses claim should it later need to be made. Please note that for longer trips (usually beyond 6 months) different considerations will usually apply, so please contact us should such a trip be planned.

5 YEAR 8 AND 9 VISIT TO FRANCE 29th JUNE - 3rd July 2017 REPLY SLIP I would like my son/daughter Tutor Group to take part in the visit to France, 29th June -3rd July I enclose a deposit of which I understand is non-refundable if my daughter is allocated a place. I have read and agree to the cancellation policy and payments details. Passports I am aware that my son/daughter will need to travel on her own passport and that it is my responsibility to ensure that my son/daughter has a valid EU/UK passport to travel. or My son/daughter does not hold EU/UK passport, but does hold her own passport issued from her country of birth. Her passport has a valid entry visa which allows her to travel in and out of the UK. I am aware that my son/daughter will need to travel on her own passport and that it is my responsibility to ensure that he/she has an appropriate passport to travel.i will send his/her passport into school for copying so that the school can apply for a visa waiver for my son/daughter to travel on this school visit to France. EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) I am aware that it is a requirement that my son/daughter have a valid EHIC card (conditional requirement of school travel insurance). Photo permission I am aware that photographs/video imagery may be taken on the trip and: I give permission for my son/daughter to be included. I do not give permission for my son/daughter to be included.

6 Signed Parent/Carer. Date: