Erasmus+ Student Mobility Programme in France – 14–18 April 2026

Our school’s student mobility programme in Strasbourg took place from 14 to 18 April 2026. The programme aimed to familiarise students with the workings and democratic values of the European Union by taking them on visits to EU institutions, particularly the European Parliament. Five students and two accompanying teachers participated in the programme. Students were selected in two rounds. During Erasmus Day in October, Year 7 and 8 students tested their knowledge of the European Union in a fun quiz. Then, in December, they had to write an essay on a pre-assigned EU topic and present it to a three-person jury. Based on the results of these two rounds, we compiled the list of travellers.

In order to meet the requirements of eco-friendly travel, we flew to Stuttgart and continued our journey to Strasbourg by train. Despite the fatigue of the journey, we explored Strasbourg’s charming city centre and sampled the local cuisine on the evening of our arrival. The next day, we took a long walk through the old town, visited the cathedral and stopped by the botanical garden and planetarium. Even those who hadn’t tried it the previous evening sampled a speciality of Alsatian cuisine: tarte flambée, also known as Flammkuchen (a type of thin-crust pizza). On the third day of our stay, we visited the European Quarter, the part of Strasbourg that houses the EU institutions. Using a pre-prepared map-based scavenger hunt, we toured the various institutions, allowing the students to discover the most important facts for themselves and then share the information they had gathered with one another. We also had the opportunity to view the interior of the European Parliament building, even entering the plenary chamber. The following day, we took a boat tour that took us back to the European Quarter, among other places, where we listened to a presentation.

The next day, we went on a boat tour that took us back to the European Quarter, among other places. We listened to a presentation about the most important events in the region’s history. To make up for the time spent on the boat, we climbed the cathedral’s tower that afternoon to admire the panoramic view. After that, all that remained was the trip home the following day.

I think we can safely say that, by the end of the mobility programme, the students had returned home enriched with countless experiences and having bonded into a true team. In addition, their theoretical knowledge of the European Union was deepened thanks to this visit. This was further facilitated by the fact that they had to work in teams throughout the programme to complete creative tasks on an interactive platform called Goosechase. As part of this, they took photos, conducted interviews and wrote an EU slogan, for example.

They shared their experiences with the school community on Europe Day in May through a presentation illustrated with photos and videos.