In the early hours of Saturday 11th March, 40 students from Year 6 and 7 at Norwich High School for Girls set off for a ski trip to the French Alps. By flying into Grenoble airport, we managed to avoid the long delays due to strike action that had hit the larger, busier airports and we had a short but very scenic coach drive to our pretty resort, Les Deux Alpes. In the afternoon, we unpacked, got kitted out with our ski equipment, and finally we were able to explore our hotel before heading for a delicious meal and a much-needed early night’s sleep.

After a hearty breakfast the next morning, we set off for our morning ski lesson, where we were greeted by our friendly ski instructors from the École du Ski Français. The students were then split into four different ability groups, which were each accompanied by a teacher, and we set off for our first ski lesson. We were very lucky to get six full days of skiing instruction, with two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon. On our second day of lessons, we were blessed with a huge dump of snow so from there on, we experienced near perfect ski conditions – dazzling sunshine, blue skies and powdery snow. The improvement in skiing ability of all four groups was impressive, with the beginners confidently tackling green and blue runs by the end of the week, whilst the intermediate and advanced groups perfected their parallel turns. All the students were presented with a commemorative pin badge and a booklet, which recognised their skiing ability at the end of their six days of lessons. We were fortunate enough to have many different runs to discover and everyone loved their ski experience.

Although we managed to cram in lots of skiing, there were plenty of opportunities to participate in some après-ski activities too. The students enjoyed a swim in the hotel pool, numerous trips out in the town to buy souvenirs, crêpes and to savour the alpine hot chocolates. We had a quiz night, we chilled out with a film and even had time for a talent show. In between ski lessons, we relaxed with a few games of pool and table football in the hotel lounge area, as well as having an opportunity to write a postcard home.

The staff were extremely proud of the way the students conducted themselves on the trip, even when faced with a two-hour delay at the airport on the way home; they decided to entertain the waiting crowds by singing renditions of their favourite songs. The students received lots of admiration and applause from the public, who complimented them on their behaviour and organisation. Special thanks must also be given to Mrs Magee, who organised such a brilliant transition ski trip.