March 24, 2023

This year, our A-Level Geography students went on a visit to Sandscale Haws Nature Reserve in South Cumbria to conduct field work on the sand dunes and work with industry experts. The Sandscale Haws Nature Reserve in South Cumbria is a beautiful example of sand dunes and a unique environment that students had the opportunity to explore and is a fitting example of why practical fieldwork is so important to an A-level Geography course.

The students were able to see and experience first-hand what they had learnt in the classroom. They were able to use their knowledge of the natural world in a practical way and compare it with other countries around the world.

The National Trust runs the reserve and allow staff from the Castle Head Field Studies Council Centre in Grange-Over Sands to conduct fieldwork there with students. Two knowledgeable and enthusiastic members of staff came along to lead our students through the fieldwork activities.

The students were able to gain profound knowledge of this location, as well as the processes behind how sand dunes form. They worked in teams to measuring the transect through the dunes, recording their height and collecting data about vegetation type and coverage, pH, soil texture and light levels. Students then analysed this data in class to produce a range of graphs and maps for their Non-Examined Assessment (NEA) which comprises 20% of their final grade.

Practical fieldwork helps students to develop their skills and understanding of Geography better than any other method. It also helps them to develop their ability to critically evaluate evidence and to make connections between various aspects of the subject.

“Fieldwork makes the work we do in class make more sense: I now know what a sand dune looks like in real life and not just in a textbook. This will make answering questions in the exam more straightforward, as well as giving us valuable data for our NEA”, said James Hird, Year 13 Geography student.

“We spent the day doing fieldwork, learning about this unique landscape and collecting data about this fragile environment. Students worked really hard in teams to measure this beautiful coastal environment,” said Mr Naylor, Subject Leader of Geography. “They relished the chance to get stuck into some hands-on Geography!”