Geography Field Trips

The Geography Department has been making a big effort to arrange field trips for pupils over the last few months.

In the summer term, Year 10 started their coursework with a trip to Camber Sands, East Sussex. At Camber, they investigated the sand dunes, measuring their height and the types of vegetation found there. They looked into the processes causing the dunes and noted the ways humans have affected them. Much fun was had clambering over the dunes, measuring their height with the help of clinometers and tape measures.

Also in the summer, pupils in Years 7 and 8 had the opportunity to go on a trip down the River Thames. This was probably one of the most enjoyable field trips arranged in recent years. Everyone travelled by coach to London. We caught a boat near the Houses of Parliament, travelled east through the City of London. It was amazing to see London from this angle. We disembarked at the Thames Flood Barrier where pupils found out how the barrier was built to protect London from storm surges (massive floods caused by storms out in the North Sea). Feedback to Mr Airey suggested that pupils thought this was a trip not to be missed.

In the autumn term it was the turn for the new Year 7. The whole year group had the chance to visit Box Hill as part of a trip organised jointly with the Science Department. This is one of the most beautiful parts of the Surrey countryside. The National Trust wardens who organised the activities all said pupils who went coped well with the appalling weather conditions. The rain literally washed away their notes! Those who were lucky to visit the following day enjoyed a mainly sunny, but still very windy day. However, all experienced science and geography fieldwork techniques and gained knowledge that will prove very useful in the years to come.