September 12, 2025

Hands-On Coastal Study for Upper Sixth Students

Over the course of 11th -12th September, our Upper Sixth Geography students embarked on an enriching field trip to the renowned Slapton Ley Field Studies Centre near Salcombe, South Devon. Known for its excellent reputation, superb location, and top-class facilities, the centre provided an ideal setting for immersive learning in coastal geography.

During the trip, students explored the varied and dynamic coastline, engaging directly with the natural environment to deepen their understanding of key geographical processes, landforms, and management strategies. The programme was delivered in collaboration with local experts from the field centre and tailored by the LP geography teachers to align closely with the A2 examination course.

Head of Geography, Oliver Staines, commented “By covering approximately half of the A2 Coastal Environments topic through this practical experience, students gained invaluable insights into real-world environmental challenges and management practices. This direct exposure not only enhanced their comprehension of theoretical concepts but also helped to free up valuable classroom time for developing essay writing skills in the final academic year—a strategy proven successful in recent years.”

The trip offered a unique opportunity for students to engage with the environment first-hand and discuss management issues with those working in the field, providing a strong foundation for their continued studies and future academic success.

The highlight for Zara (Upper Sixth student) was seeing the beach and  she also said “It was also good to see erosional processes in real-time and it gives us a framework to recall things in the exam.” Meanwhile, Will (Upper Sixth student) thought “The geography field trip was eye-opening. It was very interesting to see all the different settlements along the coast, how they dealt with floods and how different budgets put in place by the local councils affected it.”

We look forward to seeing how this experience enriches their final year of study.

Click here for more photos from this trip.

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