During National Careers Week, North East students encouraged Spanish tourists to put Bishop Auckland on their UK itinerary as part of the Spanish Apprentice challenge – a competition designed to develop language skills, boost confidence, and promote regional tourism.
40 Year 10 students from 8 schools around the region participated in the competition: King James Academy, Wolsingham School, St John’s Catholic School, St Bede’s Catholic School, Seaham High School (Durham), Cardinal Hume Catholic School (Gateshead), Benfield School and Dame Allan’s Schools (Newcastle).
Throughout the day and inspired by TV show The Apprentice, students worked in teams of five and were paired with Spanish language undergraduates from Durham University. They participated in engaging language-based tasks, culminating in a two-minute pitch in Spanish promoting The Auckland Project as a tourist destination to an expert panel of judges.
Among those on the panel were Charlotte Grobler, Palace Curator at The Auckland Project, a representative from Durham University and a member of the Learning and Skills volunteer team.
As well as honing their language and presentation skills, students explored Bishop Auckland’s unique heritage – including Auckland Palace, the Mining Art Gallery and The Spanish Gallery.
Founded by Durham County Council and Durham University, this is the third time The Auckland Project’s Learning and Skills team have hosted the event. This year, Durham University and The Auckland Project partnered with Express Yourself: North East Festival of Languages to bring the Spanish Apprentice to a wider audience.
We are delighted to have hosted the Spanish Apprentice Challenge again. Our attractions exist to build a brighter future for Bishop Auckland through tourism and this event not only promotes language learning, but also introduces students to the opportunities available in higher education. It raises aspirations and highlights how languages can be a valuable career skill.
Gemma Scott – Learning Manager, The Auckland Project
Congratulations to winners Cardinal Hume Catholic School (pictured), with an honourable mention to King James I Academy for the highest score for their presentation.
While the winners received a small cash prize and a goody bag from The Auckland Project, every participant left with something far more valuable – new skills, greater confidence and the knowledge that their ideas can help shape the future of tourism in their region.
Links and information
- For more information, please contact Harry Sinclair on harry.sinclair@aucklandproject.org
- Photo caption 1: Participants of Spanish Apprentice
- Photo caption 2: Spanish Apprentice winners – Cardinal Hume Catholic School
- The Auckland Project online: Visit The Auckland Project website and follow on social media: facebook | instagram | X | linkedin
- Click on the link for the event page: The Spanish Year 10 Apprentice Tourism Challenge
- Express Yourself: North East Festival of Languages is hosted and co-ordinated by International Newcastle
- Find out more about Express Yourself: North East Festival of Languages (What’s On programme 8 January-31 March)
Acknowledgements
- A special thank you to Gemma Scott at The Auckland Project for organising the event as part of this year’s Festival and to all the staff and volunteer team at The Auckland Project for making this event such a success
- Thanks to Penny Johnson at Durham University School of Modern Languages and Cultures for suggesting this event as part of the Festival and providing support for the event, as well as to all the Durham University Spanish Language undergraduates to worked with the participating school pupils on the day
- Thank you to Brian Stobie, former International Team lead at Durham County Council, for helping to develop the Spanish Apprentice Tourism Challenge for schools
About The Auckland Project
The Auckland Project is a regeneration charity with a difference. The historic town of Bishop Auckland has a rich and surprising history spanning over 2,000 years, and The Auckland Project believes that the culture and heritage of Bishop Auckland has the power to bring about transformative change for the people who visit, work, and live there.
The Auckland Project is creating a visitor destination in Bishop Auckland, incorporating Auckland Palace (once home to the Prince Bishops of Durham), Walled Garden, Deer Park, the Spanish Gallery, the Mining Art Gallery, Auckland Tower visitor centre, Weardale Railway and the Faith Museum. At the heart of these sites is St Peter’s Chapel, in Auckland Palace: the home of the Prince Bishops, and the historic seat of faith and power in the North of England. The themes of faith and power are repeated across The Auckland Project’s attractions, inviting conversations about belonging, faith, loss, sacrifice, community, love and creativity.
Alongside the visitor destination, The Auckland Project is also working directly with the local community to deliver a wide range of formal and informal learning for adults and young people, create jobs and apprenticeships and, both directly and indirectly, support sustainable living.
Supporting learning and skills
The Auckland Project’s Learning and Skills team offers a wide range of creative and immersive educational opportunities for students of all ages, from nursery through to university. The charity delivers school visits and outreach workshops, providing students with the opportunity to explore its unique attractions, stories, and collections through curriculum-linked, hands-on learning experiences.
In the last 12 months, over 11,000 students from across the North East and Yorkshire engaged with The Auckland Project’s educational and cultural initiatives, including Meet the Faiths, an interactive programme introducing students to different religious communities, and Mining Art Workshops which celebrate the region’s rich heritage through the works of Tom McGuinness and Norman Cornish, whose pieces are displayed in The Auckland Project’s Mining Art Gallery.
The Auckland Project, based in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, is a unique regeneration charity dedicated to building a brighter future for the picturesque market town through art, history, and culture.
For more information about The Auckland Project online: Visit The Auckland Project website and follow on social media: facebook | instagram | X | linkedin
The Festival has been part funded by the North East Combined Authority
