The exchange has an office base at Bristol Airport and is run by the Community Interest Company Académie Aquitaine which was set up in 2009 by Debbie Richards. Debbie was formerly a French teacher in the area and has been running the exchange since 2005. She is now the Director of Académie Aquitaine CIC which is a service provider to schools across the area.

The student exchange office deals with the organisation and administration of the exchange and is run by Debbie with the support of volunteers and teachers.

Application forms are submitted to your school initially then once completed, returned to the student exchange office. In November they are taken to the association office in Bordeaux for the pairings to take place.

Briefing meetings and support materials are provided by the exchange office to help students and their families to prepare for the exchange.

Parents are provided with a handbook with details of all the practicalities for the exchange and students are provided with a 'Mon Echange Scolaire' booklet and a Travel Safe booklet.

The scheme is also sponsored by Bristol Airport and students requiring financial assistance may apply to the Bristol Bordeaux Association for a bursary.

The groups are accompanied by fully qualified language teachers from local schools and there is 24 hour contact and support during the exchange periods.

There is the opportunity to meet the accompanying staff at the briefing meetings that are held in March prior to the first leg of the exchange. It is essential that parents and students attend these meetings.

The teachers are available to support students and families during their stay. They are always on call to solve any problems or to act as interpreters. You may request them to come and visit you.

You will be able to find out more about the role of the teachers when you attend the meeting in March.

French teachers from Bordeaux accompany the students when they come to England.