Letter to Parents and Carers: Year 10 and Year 11 - D-Day visit Easter break 2026

Dear Parent/Carer,

Residential visit to Normandy Landings - 30th March - 2nd April 2026

I am pleased to announce the running of an Outwood Academy Shafton trip to the D-Day beaches of Normandy.  We plan to leave the academy on 30th March 2026 and return on the 2nd April 2026.  The trip duration will be 3 nights, 4 days. We will be travelling by coach and cross channel ferry. We will be staying at the Hotel de Normandie which is recommended by the travel operator who run numerous trips for schools in the trust.  During our stay students will be provided with all meals, except for whilst travelling.  

The cost of the trip will be £600 and will include the following (full itinerary to be finalised):

For your child to reserve a place on this trip they must have an excellent record of discipline and attendance within the Academy. Should your child’s behaviour deteriorate over the next academic year (September 2025 - Mar 2026) this may result in your child losing their place and any money paid up to that point. 

Your child will need a full passport (in their own name) to be valid for a minimum of a full 6 months on the date of our return from Europe. There will be no collective passports on this trip. Students will also need to possess a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), this can be done online free of charge.  

There are 40 places on this trip and will be allocated on a first come - first served basis, but priority will be given to Y11 students studying History, followed by Y10 History students. Should demand be great we will arrange a reserve list. 

To secure a place for your son/daughter a non-refundable First Deposit of £150 will need to be paid no later than 30 September together with the consent form included at the back of this letter. Once your letter has been received you will be added to the trip on iPay (Berlin 2026) where the deposit can be paid.  Please see table below for more information relating to suggested payment dates and amounts. 

Payment | Amount | Due Date | Remainder
1st deposit | £150 | 30th September | £450
2 | £150 | 30th October | £300
3 | £150 | 30th November | £150
4 | £150 | 15th January |

Total | £600 | 

Any changes to the cost due to unexpected expenses, changes to museums on the itinerary for example, or changes to travel arrangements will be communicated as soon as possible, and amendments made to the final payment.

If you withdraw your child from this trip all monies paid will be lost up to the point of withdrawal unless there is another student on the reserve list willing to take their place. If we cannot find another student wishing to travel, then any monies paid up to the date of withdrawal can only be claimed back through the travel insurance company, providing there is a valid medical reason supported by a doctor’s certificate. However, even then you will not be able to claim the full amount back as there is always a levy charged on any insurance claim.

Please complete the reply slip overleaf along with the parental consent form – please complete this on all three sides and return as soon as possible.

Yours faithfully