Forum by Prométour

SCHOOL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS IN FRANCE & SPAIN

Curious about a school exchange,
but not sure where to start?

Our school exchange programs in France and Spain give your class the opportunity to experience everyday life with a host family. We match your school with a partner school and support both schools throughout the exchange, from welcoming your exchange partners to traveling with your students.

Talk with an Exchange Coordinator

More than 600 school exchange partnerships created since 2012.

School exchange in France

School exchange in Spain

Build Confidence and Lifelong Friendships

A school exchange gives your students the chance to experience French or Spanish language and culture through everyday connections.

Your students will:

  • Live with host families and experience daily life firsthand
  • Attend school alongside their exchange partners and discover a different school culture.
  • Build confidence speaking French or Spanish in real conversations.
  • Form friendships that make language learning more personal and meaningful.

Affordable & Inclusive

Reciprocal exchanges help keep travel costs manageable while creating opportunities for your wider school community to take part.

  • Staying with exchange partners’ families helps reduce accommodation costs.
  • Hosting brings another culture into your classrooms and community.
  • Students who do not travel can still connect with visiting students and participate in school activities.
Talk with an Exchange Coordinator
Exchange students standing together in a school sports hall

What Our Teachers Are Saying

  • nicole-teacher
    “There’s nothing like being accepted into someone else’s family and culture on such an intimate level… that’s been a great experience for our students.”
    – Nicole C., Spanish teacher –
  • belle-david
    “This exchange program was an amazing way to learn about Spanish culture and make treasured connections that would have otherwise been impossible.”
    – Belle D., Spanish student –
  • alex-b
    “Actually staying at home with a family, brings you into a new world … it brings you into the life of a French person.”
    – Alex B., student on French exchange –
  • julia-french-exchange-testimonial
    “To see our students come on this journey, it’s really quite extraordinary… I have witnessed amazing transformations that take place both during their time abroad and after their return.”
    – Julia K., French teacher –

Your School Exchange, Step by Step

1

Speak with an Exchange Coordinator

Tell us about your school, your students and your goals. We’ll explain how an exchange works and help you explore whether it is the right fit.

2

Get Matched with a Partner School

Complete your school profile so we can look for a suitable partner in France or Spain, taking your group and preferred dates into account.

3

Welcome Your Exchange Partners

Your students, families and school welcome the visiting group into your community, sharing everyday life and school activities.

4

Begin Your Exchange in France or Spain

Travel with your students to experience life with host families and attend school alongside their exchange partners.

Hosting and travel dates are coordinated with your partner school, with Forum supporting both schools throughout the process.

Talk with an Exchange Coordinator

Let’s Explore an Exchange for Your School

Interested in a school exchange in France or Spain? Tell us a little about your school, and an Exchange Coordinator will contact you to answer your questions and discuss the next steps.

You don’t need to have your plans finalized to start the conversation.

Explore Our Partner-School Locations

Discover schools in France and Spain and explore where an exchange could take your students.

  • French schools
  • Spanish schools

FAQs

Our partner schools are located across France and Spain. Explore the map above to see their cities. Pins show city locations rather than individual school addresses.

As part of the Prométour Group, we’re a leader in the educational travel industry with more than 30 years of experience. In 2006, we began organizing school exchanges and have organized more than 600 exchanges since then.

We prioritize the safety of students and have offices in both France and the US in order to provide 24/7 in-country support to both school groups while traveling.

All exchanges include travel insurance with medical coverage for both your school and the French school, giving schools and families peace of mind when hosting and traveling.

Family stays help keep costs manageable, while hosting allows your wider school community to experience French or Spanish culture.

An exchange requires support from the organizing teacher, school administration and host families.

Start by discussing it with your administration. You will need approval to travel and to welcome visiting students at your school for four to seven days. School board approval may also be necessary, so allow several months for this process.

Once you have school approval, you will need to identify if you have enough interest from families to host the visiting students. It is required in an exchange program that students are hosted one per home in a safe, supervised, and welcoming environment.

Exchanges take place during the French or Spanish school year, from September to June.

Indicate your preferred travel dates on your school profile. Greater flexibility makes matching easier. June can be more challenging because many partner schools are holding final exams.

On your school profile form, you will be able to indicate your hosting availability. The more flexible you are with your dates, the more likely we will be able to match you with a partner school.

Many French and Spanish schools prefer to travel in the fall, so establishing your partnership by the preceding spring is recommended.

You and your partner-school teacher will agree on activities for each visit, including the balance between classroom time and excursions.

Involve other teachers and students, coordinate which classes your guests will attend, and work with host families to arrange activities outside school hours.

Start Planning

Submit the form below to connect with a Forum Program Adviser who will create a personalized itinerary for your school trip!