Marché Malraux – What a First Market!

6.30am on a Sunday morning gives the school playground a very different feel! While most of Hanwell was still waking up, the gates of André Malraux were already open as the first vendors began arriving and our two playgrounds slowly transformed into the very first Marché Malraux.

Gazebos went up, tables were filled and, one by one, our artisan stalls, food and drink traders were ready. Then came 9am and that slightly nervous question: will people actually come? Thankfully, they did! The first visitors began strolling through the gates and before long the school was buzzing with families, friends and members of the wider community.

There was something for everyone: artisan makers and independent businesses, flowers, bread and cheese, organic meat, cakes and sweet treats, drinks, freshly made crêpes and plenty of delicious food. The children's stalls proved particularly irresistible — with our younger visitors enthusiastically taking over the fidget-toy table! Several traders sold out during the day, including our crêpe van, and for some it was their very first experience of trading at a market.

Most importantly, Marché Malraux achieved exactly what we had hoped when the idea first began: opening the doors of André Malraux to our neighbours and bringing the school and wider community together. We welcomed hundreds of visitors, including many people discovering our school for the very first time.

A huge thank you to our vendors, volunteers, school team, parents and everyone who came along and helped turn an idea into such a buzzing community day — even the British weather couldn't quite stop us!

And now that we've caught our breath… Marché Malraux will be back on Sunday 6 December for our festive edition.