How the UK-France Summit Will Affect Group Travel for School Trips in Future

Introduction

Exciting news for UK school groups looking to travel to France!

The UK-France Summit in March 2023 between Macron and Sunak has resulted in a new commitment to expand cooperation and policy exchanges on school education, most importantly with regards to school trips and exchanges. Both countries have also agreed to set up a bilateral commission to redefine key areas of educational cooperation, such as learning languages, vocational education, and combatting inequalities, all of which will be explained below. Contact our Travel Advisors for future updates as of when to come to stay up to date on these changes.


VISA Free Travel

Within the commitment, the UK has promised to "ease the travel of school groups to the UK by making changes to documentary requirements for schoolchildren on organised trips from France". The administrative burden on teachers will be lessened as a result of the streamlined process, which will also simplify the paperwork needed to plan trips and exchanges for you, these changes will likely to be shown in our Travel Policies as they are implimented.

France has also committed to "ensure appropriate mechanisms are in place for visa-free travel for children travelling on organised school trips from the United Kingdom and to facilitate the passage of those groups through the border." This means that teachers won't have to worry about visa requirements for their students, making it easier for school groups to travel and learn across borders.

 


Bilateral Agreement

In addition to these commitments, the two countries have agreed to set up a bilateral commission to redefine key areas of educational cooperation. What this means is that France and the United Kingdom have agreed to work together to improve education in some key areas. The commission will focus on things like learning languages, vocational education (which means job training), and making sure everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.

This is important because it means that the two countries will be able to share ideas and strategies for improving education in these areas.

As a teacher, this could affect you because it may lead to new resources and opportunities for you and your students. The commission’s new updated agreement on education between the two countries is likely to be the start of France and the the United Kingdom's friendship and will only continue to improve over time.

 


Cultural Sites

The improved access to cultural sites will be one of the new commitment’s most important advantages. There will be increased opportunities for UK teachers to take their students to iconic French tourist attractions like the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, and Palace of Versailles.

The bilateral commission's aim will be to improve UK and French teaching resources. Teachers will be able to expand their learning materials to aid in teaching their respective subjects. This will cover a shared area to learn new teaching methods, exchange ideas and gain insights from their peers across the pond.

The benefits of this new commitment extend beyond just the classroom. Teachers will have access to more opportunities in cultural exchange programs and benefit in fostering international relationships by promoting cultural understanding. UK Teachers will be able to collaborate with teachers in France, attend workshops and conferences, and participate in cultural events that can broaden their own perspectives.

It is important to note that the new commitment to improving access to cultural sites and educational resources will take time to implement fully. However, the UK and France have made a strong commitment to working together to achieve these goals and at Select School Travel we are optimistic in this being something that will have a real positive effect on our educational tours.

Conclusion

Overall, the UK-France Summit marks an important step forward for educational cooperation between the two countries. These commitments to expanding French School Trips and exchanges and improving visa-free travel for school groups will provide great opportunities for both students and teachers. Travelling and learning abroad can help broaden horizons, develop new skills, and create lasting memories. You can Enquire Here to learn and speak to an advisor if have a speicific question in mind or lookign to book a french trip.

Thank you for all the work teachers do in educating our young people. I hope this news will inspire you to plan exciting new educational trips and exchanges for your students in the future!

 

Relevant Links

Links to relevant articles on educational improvements and the original summit documentation.