For the Half Term break, the Spanish department took pupils on the School’s first post-lockdown overseas trip. After organising vaccines and tests, collating NHS Covid apps, Spanish health forms, passenger locator forms and QR codes, the lead teachers safely and successfully escorted twenty-one Fifth and Sixth Form pupils to Vejer de la Frontera near Cadiz for seven days of sun and cultural fun.
The Fifth Form pupils had Spanish lessons in the mornings, while the Sixth Formers did work experience placements, which included working in the local library, a shop, the tourism office and a kindergarten.
The afternoons were spent doing a range of activities from surfing to mountain biking and city visits.
In the evenings, pupils enjoyed Spanish meals and conversation with local host families before spending the night in their hotel.
The pupils made a wonderful impression on the town; they even met the Mayor and were featured in the local news. Their stay in Vejer was truly immersive, as no one spoke English to the pupils the entire time. As the week went on, pupils became noticeably more confident under the pressure to speak entirely in Spanish all the time.
After such a warm welcome by families and the community, their farewells to hosts and work exchange colleagues was emotional, with tears all round.
