CHILDREN and staff from a York primary school have played host to a group of Spanish children, marking the tenth anniversary of an international school exchange programme.

About 20 children from Colegio Asunción Rincón in Madrid have spent a jam-packed week with students from Robert Wilkinson Primary Academy, Strensall and their families.

The children enjoyed a full programme of events including team-building activities, language and engineering workshops, art classes, cookery sessions and sight-seeing in the city.

The programme culminated with a celebration afternoon tea prepared by the children for their host families and a farewell assembly.

Sarah Wright, Principal of Robert Wilkinson Primary Academy said: “We’ve had a wonderful week with our visitors from Madrid.

“The children have learnt so much from each other and have struck up some great friendships.

“I’m hugely impressed with the children’s enthusiasm and confidence throughout the week and how they have thrown themselves into their various activities.

“Many of our host families have told us that the exchange has been an immensely positive and enjoyable experience for them too. It’s ten years since the school started the exchange programme with Colegio Asunción Rincón – long may it continue.”

In total 14 children from Robert Wilkinson will visit Madrid in June and are already excited about meeting up with their new-found Spanish friends again.

Robert Wilkinson Primary Academy is part of the York-based Ebor Academy Trust together with Haxby Road and Park Grove Primary Academies in York and six other schools across Yorkshire.

By September next year, Ebor expects to have 20 schools in the trust, in geographic hubs in York, Selby, on the Yorkshire Coast and the East Yorkshire.