Hi,
I've just recently completed my PPL at St George flight training, and I can't recommend them enough!!
As for the routes flown for flight manoeuvers, the Hurworth burn area to the north of the airfield is used as is the area around Stokesley and out to the west near Hamsterley and Crook etc. All over really, wherever is quiet and the weather's looking good.
The basic cross country flight is EGNV-Sunderland-Barnard Castle-EGNV
although flights to Durham and Whitby are also good exercises.
Other routes within 1-2 hours are ones like Carlisle airport, the Lake District, Gamston airport, Humberside airport, Leeds-Bradford etc etc
Hope this helps
Andy