When did French exchanges start?
Many exchanges stem from the mid-20th century, post-war, influenced by cultural exchange initiatives such as twinning towns across Europe.
Why are French exchanges less common than they used to be?
Some years ago, a French exchange with a student from France was almost a rite of passage for UK school pupils. A chance to travel abroad and enjoy a different culture. A summer holiday to remember or a week out of school even! For students from busy cities, exchanging with a student from a small village, or visa versa, could be quite an experience.
With increased safeguarding requirements (rightly so) the administrational burden has taken its toll on the traditional exchange. Coupled with a variable quality of experience for young people and the inevitable challenges of providing a reciprocal arrangement, hence doubling the admin and time commitment required, exchanges have reduced in popularity and frequency. A shame indeed.
Schools able to offer a traditional exchange visit often lean heavily on the knowledge and connections of the French teacher in school to make it possible. Perhaps they have connections to a school abroad from their own time living away, or maybe there is an existing partnership that can be maintained. The extra work is often over-looked as a hidden cost – exchanges are/were very affordable in themselves but require a lot of admin!
For schools that are still able to partner with international schools, and have time and resource to provide exchanges, they remain an economical way of providing a meaningful experience abroad with exposure to the language and culture. Sadly, this is becoming far less common and the decline is even more exaggerated in the state sector than in independent schools.
What’s the alternative?
Many schools, and students travelling independently, opt for homestay as a way of replicating a similar experience to the exchange. Students are hosted by hosts who typically host multiple students many weeks of the year. A lot of hosts have students 30-40 weeks each year and have dedicated rooms for student visitors.
What’s the advantage of homestay?
As hosts are in frequent use are police vetted and we are able to receive regular feedback from students on the quality of host accommodation offered. The quality of the welcome, the food provide, facilities and proximity to good transport links etc. After all, a clear Casier Judiciaire (French equivalent to the DBS check) is not always an indication of being a good host family; it is just one part of the picture. For traditional exchanges a clear Casier Judiciaire, may be sufficient for a student to be placed with a family but feedback from previous students may not exist.
Homestay hosts can sometimes accommodate multiple students which means students can travel and stay with a friend. This is ideal in providing additional support for a nervous traveller and can offer additional reassurance for parents/carers and schools too.
Unlike an exchange visit, there is no expectation of a return visit from a similar aged student. For UK schools this means that there is no need to arrange families to receive a student. No need to undertake safeguarding home inspections or require DBS checks from UK families. This reduces the costs and administration burden considerably. It also means that students who cannot host a student returning to the UK, for any reason, are not prevented from engaging in the experience abroad.
As Blue Stamp have a vast network of hosts across France (and elsewhere), the range of destinations is much broader than for the traditional exchange visit options which are frequently tied to a single destination. One advantage of the multiple destination options is that you can mix up the location each year, or every few years, to provide different experiences for students. Our network also means you can choose dates to suit your school calendar rather than being tied by the exchange school’s dates. More flexibility often means greater uptake and lower impact on students other studies. Choosing the time of the homestay visit can also reduce the cost of cover if it can be timed at less busy periods in school.
What support do homestay hosts offer?
Our hosts are familiar with looking after students regularly and have local knowledge specific to students’ requirements. In addition to the hosts themselves, each destination also has a host coordinator for additional support if required.
Having a large network of hosts also means that we can accommodate specific student requirements; dietary needs, allergies, medical needs, faith, etc.
If you’re interested in a homestay trip, check out our guide to homestay, or read our blog post about living abroad with a host family for a personal insight into the experience.
So, should I offer an exchange or a homestay trip?
Ultimately, both types of trips have their benefits. Whilst an exchange may typically be cheaper, they can be very difficult to arrange. A homestay may be a little more expensive but is much easier to establish and run, it also offers a higher degree of vetting and security for young people, a wide choice of destinations and dates.
Want to find out more? Why not contact one of our trip consultants who can advise further.
