Spanish Exchange
For the past 20 years, St. John's School has maintained a vibrant and successful Spanish Exchange programme with Humberto Junaes School in Nigrán, Galicia. This long-standing partnership has fostered strong bonds between the two schools and provided an invaluable cultural immersion experience for our children.
Programme Structure:
Year 5 students travel to Spain
Year 6 students host Spanish students in return
One parent accompanies each child, staying in nearby bungalows on a campsite whilst in Spain
VISIT TO NIGRAN
During our trip to Spain we fly into Porto airport then travel North to Nigran. Whilst there we
attend classes at Humberto Junaes School, participate in watersports activities in the beautiful Panxon harbour, take a trip to the stunning Cíes Islands, sample local cuisine and experience cultural highlights of the area
Each evening the children go home and stay with their host families (in 2's and 3's) for full immersion into Spanish daily life.
One of the primary goals of our Cultural Exchange Trip is the complete immersion of our children into Spanish life. Students stay with their host families for the duration of the exchange, allowing them to fully experience Spanish culture, language, and daily routines.
While parents accompany their children on the trip, they stay separately to encourage independence and full cultural immersion. Parents have several carefully scheduled opportunities throughout the week to spend time with their children, balancing the need for students to settle into their host families with maintaining some parental contact.
RETURN VISIT TO MANCHESTER
In Year 6, our students have the opportunity to reciprocate the hospitality by hosting Spanish students from Nigrán, further strengthening the cultural bonds and friendships formed during their visit to Spain.
This exchange program has proven to be an enriching experience for all involved, providing our students with a unique opportunity to improve their language skills, gain cultural understanding, and form lasting international friendships.
The strong 19-year relationship between St. John's and Humberto Junaes schools continues to flourish, and we know that this trip creates lifelong friendships.
Twenty Years of the St John's Spanish Exchange
This year marks a remarkable milestone — 20 years of our Spanish exchange with CEIP Humberto Juanes School in Nigrán, Spain. Over two decades, the children, families and staff of both schools have forged deep and lasting friendships, built on mutual respect, joy and faith. This special partnership beautifully reflects our mission of nurturing hearts and inspiring minds, offering every child the chance to grow in love, understanding and global awareness. The exchange programme begins in Year 5, when our children first reach out to their Spanish pen pals through letters, Christmas cards and online meetings. These early exchanges nurture compassionate hearts and spark curiosity, helping our pupils to recognise the shared humanity that unites us all. Later in the spring term, some of our Year 5 children have the wonderful opportunity to visit Nigrán, where they are warmly welcomed into Spanish family life. Immersed in a different culture, they develop confidence, empathy and independence — experiences that truly inspire young minds. The bonds formed are deepened in the summer term of Year 6, when we joyfully reciprocate the hospitality of our Spanish friends by welcoming pupils from Humberto Juanes into our St John’s community. The week is filled with faith, friendship and fun —a living example of how we nurture hearts through kindness and inspire minds through shared discovery. We are deeply proud that over the past twenty years, countless children have been transformed by this unique cultural journey — their hearts enriched through love and belonging, and their minds inspired to embrace the world with curiosity and compassion. As we look to the future, we remain steadfast in our commitment to nurturing hearts and inspiring minds, ensuring that the spirit of this exchange continues to flourish for generations to come.
