The experience delivered both academic and cultural enrichment opportunities, including a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ stage performance for dance students at Disneyland Paris, and an opportunity for GCSE French students to hone their language and comprehension skills in real-life scenarios.  

Providing a platform for students to apply their classroom learning in a practical setting was a key objective for head of languages, Tracy Styche, who said: “Being surrounded by things such as street signs and posters, as well as obviously hearing the language around them, helped to put so many aspects of the GCSE course into perspective. The timing of the trip was also perfect as it was immediately before the final speaking exam and provided students with a valuable revision tool.

“The students really embraced the opportunity to use their language skills, particularly during a visit to the Rue Mouffetard Market where they were encouraged to explore the stalls and use their French to make purchases. Some of the market traders picked up on their efforts to speak French and were both patient and encouraging, which really boosted the students’ confidence. Help was on hand if they needed it, but they absolutely went for it and were keen to show what they had bought. It was a pure joy to witness how proud they were of themselves when they successfully spoke or understood something in French. It was an amazing opportunity for all involved.”

The group's Parisian itinerary continued with a visit to the Louvre, followed by a walk along the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. The tour culminated with unobstructed views of the Eiffel Tower from the Trocadéro and a panoramic perspective of the city from the observation deck of the Montparnasse Tower.

Reflecting on the experience from a student perspective, Phoebe, Year 11, said: “I had such an amazing time and I’m so happy that I got the opportunity to go. I really loved learning about French culture and seeing the country in person. It helped me with my confidence in French and, by hearing the language being used around me, it definitely helped with my speaking exam too. I loved the view of Paris from the Montparnasse Tower and loved seeing the Eiffel Tower as well. It has always been my dream to go to Paris and it felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Fellow student Matilda added: “It was really fun to be able to apply what we’ve learnt in lessons to the conversations we had at the market”, while Elliott said: “The trip was everything I expected. Touring Paris was my favourite part as I enjoyed the difference in culture, the people, and the memories I made.”

While the GCSE French students were immersed in the country’s culture, a group of dance students were preparing to take to the stage at Disneyland. As part of the day’s activities, the group also took part in a pre-event workshop, plus a question-and-answer session with professionals from the park’s entertainment team.

Jamie Hughes, head of creative arts, said: “The dancers were awe-inspiring. I was beyond proud to be accompanying them as they performed their hearts out on an international stage. Their performance was a heartfelt and intense showcase based on their chosen theme of ‘hopes and dreams’. They rose to the challenge of performing at a prestigious venue and, as they confidently took the stage, it was evident that their hard work, commitment and preparation had paid off.

“A real highlight of the Disney experience came during a Q&A session with the park’s choreographer, stage director, casting agent and technical engineer. Our students interacted maturely and inquisitively to learn about life as a performer. After a 90-minute intensive dance workshop, the students went on to perform their full live showcase in front of a packed theatre - all on three hours sleep!”

The 20-minute performance was the result of months of rehearsals and planning which began last September when, as part of a preliminary audition stage, the dancers were required to prepare two routines within a framework set by the park’s entertainment team.

Among the requirements was the need to create family-friendly routines, using full songs of at least three minutes in length, and to ensure that at least 90 per cent of the content featured in the finished showcase.

Following the news that the audition had been successful, work began on creating the rest of the performance. “Both audition tracks formed part of the final show, along with around ten other pieces”, said Jamie. “These new routines included the show’s opening number which introduced the concept of a magical dreamlike state. We decided to base our ideas on the self-selected theme of ‘hopes and dreams’ as we felt this was fitting for a debut international performance. 

“Securing a stage slot at Disneyland was a real honour for us as a school, as well as for our students, as such opportunities are typically only afforded to dedicated dance schools. This hugely rewarding and inspiring trip helped to show our young people that career opportunities in international performance are entirely achievable. With many aspiring performers in the school, it really could be any one of them on that stage again in the future. I am so proud of our students for showcasing the amazing talent that exists in Withernsea and the surrounding areas in front of an international audience.”

Sharing their collective thoughts, members of the Year 10 dance group said: “It was a really magical experience. We had the best time performing and it was such a great opportunity for us. The workshop was hard work but very insightful. Disneyland itself was also incredible and we had the most amazing time. The highlights were definitely performing on stage and taking part in the workshop, as well as being able to see things from a cast member’s perspective.”

Year 11 student, Faith, added: “The dance workshop was so good and offered a great insight into the work that goes into producing Disney shows. Performing was fun and it was surprising how big the audience was!”. Fellow Year 11 dancer Maddie said: “I loved it. I really enjoyed the workshop and learned lots about the world of professional performance. I would do it all again in a heartbeat! The highlights were definitely performing and taking the bows at the end. The parade and fireworks at Disney were also pretty special.”

The weekend ended with the dance and GCSE French groups reconnecting for a shared day of exploring the rides and attractions at Disneyland, culminating in an evening watching the park’s nightly fireworks display.   

Ahead of their departure to France, and thanks to a kind donation from Centrica, branded hoodies were purchased for all students involved. The hoodies functioned as an official travel uniform, helping students to remain visible during their three-day visit.   

Jamie Hughes said: “There was a real buzz in the room when the hoodies were handed out - the students loved their travel uniform! We are extremely grateful to Centrica for their generous support. I know these hoodies will be a staple of our students’ photos and trip memories - memories which will no doubt last a lifetime.”

ABOVE: Dance students dazzled on stage at Disneyland Paris.

ABOVE: GCSE French students pose for a photo on the observation deck of the Montparnasse Tower.

ABOVE: For many of the students, seeing the world-famous Eiffel Tower was a particular highlight of the trip.

ABOVE: GCSE French students embrace Parisian café culture.

ABOVE: The students confidently interacted with market traders and street artists during their tour of Paris.

ABOVE:The iconic ‘Sleeping Beauty’ castle was perhaps an ironic photo opportunity for the group who were surviving on three hours sleep! 



ABOVE: Students hailed the ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunity to perform at Disneyland.

ABOVE: Thanks to a generous donation from Centrica, the students each received a tour hoodie.