Field Study Visits

For our Year 11 and L6 Geography students and our L6 Biology students, there are field study visit opportunities. These visits offer students a hands-on, practical experience pertinent to the course they are studying, furthering their enjoyment of the subject with their classmates and tutors.

 

 

"Fieldwork is an opportunity for students to gain practical skills that are important in connecting the theory of processes, systems and interconnections with the ‘messiness’ of the real world outside their lessons.  There is no substitute for ‘real world’ learning and there is much to gain when students are asked to apply what they have learnt to familiar or unfamiliar neighbourhoods, landscapes and cultures.  Fieldwork is an essential component of a student’s geography education – an opportunity for them to be creative and to guide their own learning outcomes, giving them a sense of ownership over the learning process.  Shared experiences are often the best vehicle for facilitating extended conversations with students enabling them to “think outside of the box” and apply high level critical thinking at a given place or time."

Dr Frampton, Head of Geography

 

Y11 Geography (GCSE) – Juniper Hall, Surrey

 

In Year 11, Geography students are invited to take part in a four day (three night) residential field study visit to Juniper Hall near Dorking in Surrey.

The visit provides students with all of the practical experience and data that they need in order to tackle the fieldwork section of the GCSE exam.

 

The study visit includes excursions in the vicinity with the purpose of investigating two contrasting areas that demonstrate the changing geographical landscapes over time. Students take part in their own primary data collection and learn how to evaluate and analyse this.

 

L6 Geography (A Level and IB) – Slapton Ley, Devon


Sixth form geographers have the opportunity to go on a week long study visit to Slapton Ley Field Studies centre in Devon to study a variety of aspects from the A level/IB course.

It covers a variety of topics that allow students to build on their knowledge in the classroom preparing them for their final year in the sixth form. Topics covered usually include: coastal processes, management and geomorphology; river management and change, carbon offsetting, urban inequality, re-branding and deprivation studies.

 

L6 Biology (A Level and IB) – Dale Fort, Pembrokeshire


This study visit is a five night residential course for those studying Biology in the Sixth Form for A Level, I.B. Higher and I.B. Standard exams.

Students will study a variety of aspects from the A level/IB specifications during the course and covers a variety of topics that allow students to build on their knowledge in the classroom preparing them for their final year in the Sixth Form.

For IB students the course covers material from the IB specification and brings together many aspects of the whole Biology course. The field work carried out at the centre contributes to the time students are required to spend on practical activities. Students also have the opportunity to complete the internal assessment component of their IB course.
This consists of a complete investigation which students have to plan, carry out, analyse and evaluate. Students are given ample time to collect their data, access the centre library for research purposes and speak to centre staff (who are extremely knowledgeable in the ecology of the area) about their investigation. The coursework component of the IB course contributes 20% of the final grade.

For A level students the course covers material from the OCR A level specification and brings together many aspects of the whole Biology course which will greatly improve students’ overall understanding. During their time at the centre students will develop practical skills which are assessed in written examinations, further develop their maths skills which make up 10% of the marks in A-level Biology and complete several practical activity groups which will contribute towards the practical endorsement.