Year 11 Geography students at Leighton Park embarked on an unforgettable residential field trip to South Wales. From Thursday 13th to Saturday 15th March, students travelled to the Margam Park Discovery Centre near Port Talbot, a location renowned for its exceptional facilities and ideal setting for geographical fieldwork.
The trip, an integral part of the GCSE Geography course, provided an invaluable opportunity for students to apply the theory they had studied throughout the year in a real-world context. With the guidance of local experts from the Field Studies Council and the expertise of Leighton Park’s own geography teachers, students were able to deepen their understanding of river and urban environments in a hands-on manner.
The itinerary was packed with exciting and educational activities, each designed to enhance students’ knowledge of the key topics covered in the iGCSE curriculum. The group set out on a comprehensive investigation of the Ogmore River, measuring changes in the river channel and testing water quality. This exercise allowed students to observe the dynamic features of river environments up close, reinforcing the concepts they had previously learned in the classroom, as Jasmine (Year 11) recalls “My favourite part of the trip was doing the field sketches, as I found it fun and very useful as I hadn’t done it before. Doing the fieldwork was useful as I now understand more about the water velocity in the river; how it effects and erodes the landscape and the riverbank. Now I understand what we’ve learned in class more effectively.”
Next, the urban environment session took students to Cardiff, where they explored land use changes along a transect line through the city. They also completed environmental quality surveys and bipolar assessments, which gave them the chance to engage with real-world urban landscapes. These fieldwork activities not only provided valuable data for their studies but also strengthened their classroom understanding of urban geography.
Students spent time processing their results, carefully analysing the data collected during the day. This hands-on experience was crucial for their preparation for their iGCSE Geography exams, particularly for the section on fieldwork, which accounts for nearly a quarter of their overall mark. Kian (Year 11) reflected “I enjoyed working with different people and working in different groups. Doing the fieldwork was useful to get a better understanding of how we do an investigation outside of the classroom, which will make it easier to recall the information in the future.”
By participating in these activities, students gained a thorough understanding of the fieldwork process, equipping them with the skills needed to tackle the exam with confidence. The residential experience provided a perfect blend of academic focus and fun, and the lessons learned will undoubtedly stay with the students as they continue their GCSE journey.
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