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Friday 28 June - Tuesday 2 July 2024

Year 12 Geography students have recently returned from an action-packed 5-day residential trip to Suffolk, a highlight of the A-Level Geography course at Westminster City School. Students stayed at the Field Studies Council’s Flatford Mill residential centre, where they were supported by their A-Level Geography teachers Miss Baulcomb, Mr Ali and expert tutors from the FSC to conduct their own geographical fieldwork investigations exploring a diverse range of landscapes. They also had the opportunity to collect their own data for their NEA coursework investigation, which comprises 20% of their overall A-Level Geography grade.

On the first day, students walked along the River Stour and explored the rural settlement of Dedham, a picturesque village located in the ‘Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’. This landscape was the inspiration for John Constable’s famous painting of ‘The Hay Wain’, which is on display in the National Gallery. Students then visited Walton-on-the-Naze, a dynamic stretch of coastline with a fascinating array of coastal features formed by destructive waves eroding the cliffs. They measured and compared infiltration rates, the weight of sediment and the gradient of the beach at different locations, before carrying out statistical analysis of their results in evening lessons. Students also visited the town of Ipswich to investigate the success of the waterfront regeneration project, which has aimed to bring social, economic and environmental improvements to a formerly industrial area of derelict factories. Each evening, students took part in tutorial workshops to develop their analytical skills and used GIS technology to create digital maps and graphs to show their findings.

Miss Baulcomb, Subject Leader of Geography at Westminster City School said:

“This trip is always the highlight of my year. Learning outdoors in a practical way is a hugely important part of Geography as it brings our classroom learning to life. It is a real privilege to see so many of our students enjoying the opportunity to do some hands-on geography in a fieldwork environment, and working collaboratively with their peers to achieve their goals. I have been so impressed by each and every one of them throughout the week – they have been excellent ambassadors for our school and our subject.

“They have shown tremendous resilience, teamwork, leadership and problem-solving skills; I am extremely proud of their achievements. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Andy from FSC Flatford Mill for being such an excellent tutor to our students during the trip; his passion for Geography inspired everyone to make the most of the visit and his expertise and support of their learning is very much appreciated.”

The Year 12 students also enjoyed the experience.

Hameeda in Year at Westminster City School’s Sixth Form said:

“My visit to the coast of Walton-on-the-Naze was undoubtedly the highlight of my entire trip. The radiant sunshine and the soothing sound of waves crashing against the shore created a blissful atmosphere that instantly uplifted my spirits. Armed with my digital camera, I captured these raw, beautiful moments with my peers, preserving memories that felt timeless. The undoubtable charm of the area inspired me to choose it as the focus of my NEA, prompting the question, "How has coastal management shaped the landforms found at Walton-on-the-Naze?". As I collected data, conducted beach profiles, and analysed sediment, I discovered a profound passion for the process, wishing I could immerse myself in it every day.”

Deborah, who is also in Year 12 at Westminster City School’s Sixth Form added:

“At first, I was a bit hesitant on going on the trip because I thought it would be boring and daunting but, when we arrived at Flatford Mill and did our first data collection in Dedham village, I developed place attachment and a sense of topophilia [love of a place] because I was surrounded by the sublime beauty of nature. I enjoyed collecting data at Walton-on-the-Naze the most as I learnt a lot about coastal management and touched London clay for the first time which was absolutely captivating. We also went to Ipswich where we collected some data serving as a pilot study, I met interesting characters and learnt that Ipswich is undergoing a lot of regeneration. However, it was not all about work - every night we played fun games and laughed together. Overall, the trip was wonderful and couldn't have been possible without Ms Baulcomb and Mr Ali who made the trip exciting. The only problem is that it wasn't long enough!”