GEOGRAPHY STUDENTS GET AHEAD AT THE NETTLECOMBE FIELD STUDIES CENTRE
Peter Symonds A Level geography students recently immersed themselves in the wonderful worlds of fieldwork, data collection and investigation, during a trip to Nettlecombe Court, Somerset, one of the country’s leading field work study centres.
The Nettlecombe trip enabled students to explore and analyse topics including infiltration rates and carbon capture and storage, in a variety of locations ranging from muddy on-site woodland to nearby Minehead. The main aim of the trip was to equip students with the skills needed to undertake independent investigation as part of their non-exam assessment (NEA), which forms 20 per cent of their final A Level mark.
Paul Wraight, Head of Geography, said: “The trip to Field Study Centre Nettlecombe is a fieldwork skills masterclass. Our students learnt new skills which will stand them in good stead for their forthcoming A Level coursework investigations, and particularly their non-exam assessments (NEA). Our day-trip to Minehead was part of our Changing Places topic, within which we examine relationships and connections between people, the economy, society and the environment to understand why place meaning
“Trips like this bring classroom lessons to life. Symonds is really passionate about applying theoretical knowledge to real-word settings, which is a crucial aspect of learning, especially in subjects like geography. The hands-on experience, combined with data collection and investigation helps students understand complex geographical concepts and methods more deeply.”
The Nettlecombe trip is one of a series of student educational excursions offered by the Symonds Geography department. Residential field courses are offered elsewhere in the UK and overseas. The next trip will be to the Mediterranean island of Sicily, in June, to study the local environment and in particular, the volcanic landscape.
Posted: 3 April 2025
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