Over the half term break, 26 Norwich High School for Girls students from Year 10 to Year 13 embarked on a memorable trip to Granada, located in the heart of southern Spain. This immersive experience was designed not only to strengthen their Spanish language skills but also to immerse them in the rich history, culture and traditions of the region.

One of the most rewarding aspects of the trip was the opportunity for students to stay with local host families, allowing them to practise their Spanish in a real-world setting while also gaining insight into daily life in Spain. Living with host families gave the students the chance to experience authentic Spanish hospitality and engage in everyday conversations, further enhancing their linguistic abilities and cultural understanding.

Each morning, students participated in 3-4 hours of Spanish lessons led by native speakers. These lessons covered a wide range of topics aligned with both the GCSE and A Level curriculums, helping students improve their speaking, listening and writing skills.

In the afternoons, the group had plenty of time to explore the city and take in what Granada has to offer. A key highlight was the visit to El Alhambra, the iconic palace and fortress complex that stands as a symbol of Spain’s Islamic heritage. They also explored El Albaicín, the historic Moorish quarter of the city, with its narrow, winding streets, whitewashed houses and breathtaking vistas of the Alhambra. Granada is renowned for its mix of architectural styles and the students had the chance to admire the city’s many buildings from the Islamic, Renaissance and Baroque periods.

In addition to sightseeing, the students took part in several hands-on workshops, which were both fun and educational. A Flamenco dancing class gave them the chance to try their hand at Spain’s most famous dance, while another workshop focused on Arabic calligraphy. A particularly memorable experience was the Spanish cooking class, where students learned how to prepare traditional Spanish dishes such as tapas, paella and a delicious chocolate mousse dessert. It was a perfect way to dive deeper into Spain’s culinary culture while also learning practical skills.

Granada is a fantastic destination for a school trip. It is large enough in size to have all of the shops, restaurants and attractions you would expect from a city, whilst also being not too big to leave you feeling overwhelmed or unsafe. It has a large student population being home to one of the largest universities in Spain giving the streets a young and vibrant feel. It is definitely a place we would return to and the students that came with us got fully involved in everything we did and were a real credit to Norwich High.