Twelve students in Years 10 and 11 at King James I Academy have recently returned from a unique trip to Spain, which allowed them to experience the sights, cuisine and culture of both Madrid and Barcelona. The six-day ‘Challenge Espana’ experience was designed as a reward trip for selected students who had demonstrated an excellent attitude to their studies and showed a high level of commitment to maintaining outstanding behaviour and attendance throughout the academic year.
Six Year 10 students and six Year 11s were selected to attend the trip; they experienced the sights and culture of each city by completing a series of organised challenges issued to them each morning by Headteacher, Nick Grieveson.
Prior to departure, the group was divided into four teams of three, and although each was accompanied by a member of staff, students took full control of solving clues and earning points for their team. In addition to this, each team was given a budget of €100 per day for food and travel expenses; this offered an opportunity to develop skills in effective money management and mental maths.
The group first travelled to Liverpool for an overnight stay before their early morning flight. In Madrid, they travelled via the Madrid Metro and visited the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas and the Plaza Mayor, the main public square which dates back to the 15th century. For one of the challenges, teams made their way to the Palacio Real de Madrid, the official residence of the Spanish Royal family and the Bernabau Football Stadium; they also visited Retiro Park, which is home to the Palacio de Cristal.
After three days in Madrid, the group travelled to Barcelona on the AVE high-speed train, which travelled at 205mph and completed the 310-mile journey in just 2 hours 30 minutes. In Barcelona, students were able to visit La Sagrada Familia, the Arco de Triunfo, the Olympic Stadium and the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya. They also rode the Teleférico de Barcelona cable car over the city.
Those who participated in Challenge Espana will now share their experience by organising and leading a series of ‘mini-challenge’ events in our local area and further afield in the UK, for students in younger year groups, including local primary pupils.
Photo caption: Year 11 participants pictured here at Palacio Real de Madrid.
