In September, GCSE Spanish students from Year 10 and Year 11 went on a successful visit to Suances in Northern Spain. Click for a report of their trip.

In the last week of September, GCSE Spanish students from Year 10 and Year 11 went on a very successful visit to Suances in Northern Spain.

They travelled by coach and ferry arriving at their destination in time to hit the beach for an afternoon of relaxation before the packed schedule began.

The students first visited the Palaeolithic caves at the world famous Altamira. They then got to taste a traditional paella at Santillana del Mar, an unspoilt mediaeval village, before heading off to explore local art galleries and the museum of the Spanish inquisition.

The following day, students attended the local secondary school, San Juan Jose Gomez Quintana, where they were welcomed into lessons to experience Spanish-style education. Following this experience, they headed into the centre of Suances to practise their conversational skills.

Later in the week, students had the opportunity to visit the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, an experience not to be missed - both for the building itself and for the amazing modern art it is home to. Students also experienced a Latin music night where they enjoyed brushing up on their dancing skills.

The final full day in Spain included a visit to Cabarceno Wildlife park in the beautiful Northern region of Cantabria where students saw lions, tigers, giraffes, meerkats, elephants and the silver backed gorilla.

A stop-off at a local shopping centre in Santander provided an opportunity to buy a few Spanish souvenirs before heading back to the hotel for a last night quiz and disco to round off the week.