Year 10 and 11 Trip to Madrid

A group of year 10 and 11 students from Saltley Academy embarked on a journey filled with cultural immersion, learning, and exploration thanks to the support of the Turing grant from the DFE who allowed us to take 15 students and 3 staff on a fully funded trip to Madrid, the capital of Spain.

We kicked off our trip with a sweet start by indulging in the famous churros con chocolate. Energised and ready to explore, we wandered through the bustling streets of Madrid, marveling at iconic landmarks such as Puerta del Sol, Plaza España, and el Templo de Debod to watch a beautiful sunset.

Our second day was filled with enriching interactions as we visited or partner school in Getafe, a bilingual school. Here, our students had the incredible opportunity to engage with Spanish students, fostering cross-cultural connections and language learning. Presentations in Spanish were given by our students highlighting Saltley Academy and Birmingham, while the Spanish students shared interesting facts and information in English about Getafe and Madrid. Following the presentations, some of our students collaborated with the Spanish students to make a mural and other students participated in a bilingual podcast production. We concluded the day by savoring the panoramic views of Madrid at the rooftop of Círculo Bellas Artes while enjoying ice cream and refreshments.

On Wednesday we embarked on a journey to the medieval city of Toledo with the Spanish students. We explored its historical and religious landmarks, including a palace, cathedral, and mosque. Afterwards, we had lunch with the Spanish students and played football together in the plaza. After giving our farewell to our partner school, we returned to Madrid and continued our cultural education by visiting the Palacio Real and Plaza Mayor.

Our last full day began with a visit to the Santiago Bernabeu, home to the renowned Real Madrid football club. We had the chance to learn about the team's history and see their many football awards. Following this, we made our way to Retiro Park for a leisurely picnic and more football, enjoying our time in the sun. We then visited the Reina Sofía, where we saw some of Picasso’s most famous paintings, including the iconic Guernica.

As our journey ended, we savored a traditional Spanish dinner of tapas, reminiscing on the memories forged during our time in Madrid. The last evening ended with a lively celebration, complete with games and a Spanish dance party to commemorate our time together.

Keep checking for next year’s opportunities!