A Week of Cultural Discovery and International Friendship in Spain
Over the Easter break, 15 language pupils embarked on an educational visit to Spain led by Head of Modern Foreign Languages, Mr Andrew Hutchinson and Language Teacher Miss Emma John. Mr Hutchinson shares the following report about the trip:
“Delayed at Madrid Airport and watching the boarding queue inch slowly forward, Miss John was jolted from her approaching drowsiness by the sound of laughter—an unmistakable gaggle of RGS pupils making their way to the gate, animated by what could only be described as hysterical fatigue. Perhaps no moment better captured the fun, camaraderie, and relentlessly positive spirit our pupils displayed throughout the trip.
The adventure began with a cloudy morning tour of Madrid’s iconic sites: the Palacio Real, Museo del Prado, the homes of literary giants Miguel de Cervantes and Lope de Vega, all linked by the city’s charming plazas. Though weary from the flight and an energetic start, pupils listened attentively during an afternoon visit to an historic instituto—alma mater to Santiago Bernabéu and several Central American presidents—before embracing their first of many shopping excursions, this one in the middle of a downpour.
Shopping quickly became a much-loved feature of our time in Madrid. The glamour of Gran Vía, with its early 20th-century grandeur and very own flat iron building, proved irresistible—even Primark looked glamorous here. Pupils navigated the city with growing confidence, soon mastering its layout better than Google Maps and impressing staff with their independence and reliability.
Sunday brought literal highs with a visit to an amusement park, where many braved their first loop-the-loop rollercoasters—an essential rite of passage on any language trip. The following day, we travelled to Toledo, Spain’s former capital. With Mudejar architecture on display around every corner, this medieval labyrinth offered a rich historical backdrop. Our museum visit, showcasing musical instruments decorated by renowned international artists and housed in a working convent, prompted curiosity (and a few theories)—no, the nuns don’t live in the walls!
On Tuesday morning, nerves ran high as we travelled to the suburbs for our visit to the link school, Santo Domingo de Silos in Pinto. Any anxieties were soon dispelled by the warmth of both our pupils and their Spanish hosts. Social media handles were exchanged, a friendly international football match took place at break, and our pupils even tried the robust local speciality cocido madrileño—a hearty stew featuring generous helpings of meat and chickpeas.
Perhaps most touching was the way friendships flourished—both with our hosts and within the RGS group. Many pupils arrived knowing few others on the trip, but left with close friends and shared memories.
Evenings wandering through the relaxed buzz of Sol, fresh-fried calamari, the ornate grandeur of Aranjuez Palace—these moments were just some of the cultural highlights of a trip that brought people together in a unique and unforgettable way. In short, everyone had a fantastic time.”
