OOOH LA LA! A Weymouth school went French for a fun-packed week.

Wyvern Academy held its first ever French Week recently, with the aim of allowing every student at the specialist school to experience what life and culture is like in France.

Although based on the English side of the Channel, students got the chance to experience the French lifestyle, its cuisine and sport.

Wyvern Academy is a specialist school for cognition and learning, providing highly individualised education for up to 86 pupils aged two to 19 years with complex learning difficulties.

Staff said the activities planned for French Week were specially devised to enable each student to participate at his or her own level, and to derive maximum enjoyment from the experience.

Kelly Stinton, head of primary at the academy, who was responsible for planning the week-long programme of events said: “We aimed to make it like living in France. Each day started off with a traditional French breakfast, then we offered students a variety of activities which gave them an idea of how life on the other side of the Channel contrasts with our own.

“Our staff were supported throughout the week by the PE department at Wey Valley School with whom we have a fantastic working partnership. The mutual support which exists between the two schools benefits both our pupils and their own.”

Special workshops took place all week, giving students an opportunity to develop new skills in French-themed dance, cookery and language. One of the highlights of the week was the ‘Tour de France,’ which involved pupils circuiting the school field on a variety of wheels – bicycles, trikes, tandems, wheelchairs and buggies. Their route was dotted with images of sights seen on the traditional Tour de France.

Other highlights included a visit from accordion player, Nigel Lawrence, who performed some French music.

The week finished in a special morning where parents were invited into the school where they listened to French songs and music, watched a performance of the dances developed during the week, then sampled cuisine prepared by students.