A first trip to the Château du Molay
Booking a first school trip is never a small decision. There is the accommodation to picture, the safety of the group to think through, and a hundred small questions about how the trip will run in practice. For the James Bateman school, that venue was the Château du Molay in Normandy. The Chateau is an eighteenth-century building belonging exclusively to Travelbound since 1993 and only available to school groups. Here is what Tracey Price told us, in her own words, about taking James Bateman school to the Chateau for the first time.
Before a first trip to the Château du Molay
Why the Château du Molay?
Tracey Price first heard about the Château through Travelbound and recommendations from colleagues who had already run the trip in previous years. What tipped the decision to run her own school trip at the Chateau was the combination of a dedicated educational centre, strong facilities, and the chance to give students an experience they would genuinely remember.
“The combination of a dedicated educational centre, excellent facilities, and the opportunity to give our students a memorable residential experience made it an easy choice for our first visit.”
Support before the trip
Good planning starts long before the coach leaves. Tracey described the pre-trip admin process as straightforward from the outset, with the Travelbound team responsive and organised throughout.
“The support from Travelbound was excellent from start to finish. The booking process was straightforward, and all the information we needed was provided in plenty of time, which made planning the trip much less stressful.”
First-trip nerves, and how they eased
It is natural to have concerns before a first visit anywhere – how the days will run, what the accommodation will really be like, whether students will stay safe and engaged. Tracey was no exception. Clear communication from Travelbound beforehand built confidence early, and any remaining doubts settled quickly once the group arrived.
“Once we arrived, those concerns disappeared almost immediately thanks to the welcoming staff and well-organised site.”
During a first trip to the Château du Molay
The trip itself
The finished picture was a school trip that balanced learning, activity and downtime. Students moved between educational visits, outdoor activities and time to socialise, all within a programme that Tracey described as running smoothly from beginning to end.
Food at the Chateau du Molay came in for praise: fresh meals prepared on site, a barbecue evening the group loved and lunches where students chose their own options. Mealtimes, often a logistical headache with a large group, were well organised throughout.
“The quality of food was very impressive and we loved the BBQ! Lunches were great and enabled students to select their own choices. Mealtimes were well organised and went really smoothly.”
What surprised James Bateman school
Even with research and recommendations beforehand, the scale and set-up of the site still exceeded expectations, particularly the pool.
“We were pleasantly surprised by just how spacious the site was and how well everything was set up for school groups. The swimming pool was phenomenal!”
Staff, grounds and everyday safety
Two areas of praise came up: the quality of the on-site staff, and how easily the grounds allowed students some independence within a safe, enclosed setting.
“The staff were outstanding. Nothing was too much trouble, and they always went the extra mile to help.”
The grounds themselves, 38 acres of parkland around the château, gave students room to explore safely, while a practical indoor layout with strong communal areas made supervision straightforward for staff.
“The enclosed site and clear layout meant we felt comfortable allowing students a degree of independence appropriate to their age. It gave them confidence while allowing us to supervise them safely.”
That same set-up gave staff something they had not necessarily expected: a genuine chance to pause. With students settled, teachers could relax at points during the trip while still supervising effectively – as one accompanying staff member put it, it was like being on holiday.
Read about Newport High’s Château du Molay school trip
With trips to the Château running for several years, they know how to run an amazing school trip.
Built for ages 8 to 13
The group’s students were aged 8 to 13, and the teacher felt the activities, accommodation and facilities were well matched to that age range throughout: challenging and engaging without ever feeling like too much.
“They loved the disco and karaoke. The swimming pool was a big hit, as was the games room and evening activity programme.”
After a first trip to the Château du Molay
An easy decision to rebook
Before the trip had even ended, the school had booked its return visit for the following year. Seeing first-hand how much the students enjoyed the experience, and how smoothly Travelbound and the château staff ran it, made that an easy call.
“The quality of the experience spoke for itself. We knew we wanted to give next year’s students the same opportunity.”
Advice for a first-time trip leader
When asked what they would say to a teacher weighing up their first visit to the Château du Molay, the answer was simple: don’t hesitate.
“The support before and during the trip is excellent, the facilities are ideal for school groups, and the experience is incredibly rewarding for both students and staff. You’ll feel well looked after from the moment you book.”
“Book up and enjoy the experience. The Travelbound team and château staff have a huge amount of experience and are there to help every step of the way. Make the most of the opportunities available, encourage your students to get involved in everything, and you’ll create memories that will last a lifetime.”
Interested in running your own trip to the Chateau du Molay?
Start an enquiry with our Travelbound team now!
