Year 12 Geographers on the Jurassic Coast

Our Year 12 A Level geographers returned this week from 4 days and 3 nights on Dorset's Jurassic coastline. This annual trip is a mix of teaching 'in the field' (bringing the Coasts unit of the A Level vividly to life), and vital preparation for the students' NEA (coursework) investigations. Across the country all A Level Geography students must spend a compulsory 4 days carrying out fieldwork outside the school environment, and this stretch of southern coastline provides an ideal location to fulfil that requirement.

Coincidently, our visit happened to be on one of the hottest weekends of the year, meaning we got to see already dramatic landscapes at their most beautiful, and occasionally get our feet wet in the lukewarm waters.

Based at Leeson House field centre in the village of Langton Matravers (near Swanage) we visited the following: the sand dunes of Studland Bay, Hurst Castle spit, majestic Chesil Beach, fragile cliff tops at Barton-On-Sea, the dystopian community of Poundbury, famous Old Harry Rocks, Lulworth Cove, and Durdle Door. Along the way, we studied the natural systems at work and how humans interract with this dynamic coastal environment.

In the evenings, our excellent Leeson House Tutor, Mark, led classroom sessions that taught many of the essential skills required to carry out A Level standard NEA fieldwork. However, there was also time for water fights, table tennis, takeaway curries, and even an initiation (for most) into the game of pool. This group of students know each other very well, and it was a pleasure to see them engaging so well with the work, whilst having a great time together wherever we went. The photos tell the story.

Each year we nominate one student as 'Geographer of the Year' whilst in Dorset, awarded to someone who makes consistent positive contributions, or demonstrates particular 'grit' over what can be an exhausting long weekend. Whilst Paloma and Janice will collect the Geography Award for best academic performance at next week's Speech Day, Ruby was named Geographer of the Year 2023, for tackling so many steep coastal paths with leg injuries and never complaining, as well as being an uncanny 'human compass'. A special mention must also go to Nettie, whose natural energy kept the team on its toes throughout.

This was a memorable end to another fantastic year of A Level Geography. Many thanks to Miss Smith for her help in making the weekend a success.