On Monday 8^th July, 36 Year 12 Geographers, accompanied by Mr Green, Mr Conroy, Mrs Covus and Miss Upton, left Burnham early to travel 6 hours north to Blencathra in the Lake District.  The aim was to help students prepare for their Independent Investigation (worth 20% of their A-level) by practising coastal and urban fieldwork skills in an unfamiliar environment.

Students packed in plenty of activities and were not put off by typical Lake District weather early in the week.  They started by investigating inequality and place perceptions in the town of Keswick and decided whether it was a ‘Clone town’ or ‘Home town’.  Over the next two days, they practised quantitative methods on the Cumbrian coast at Silloth and qualitative methods in the small town of Maryport, a place that has experienced a number of regeneration efforts over the last 25 years.  Towards the end of the week, students then had a chance to practice their newly-learnt skills in the context of their own independent investigation, be it coastal or urban fieldwork.

After full days of fieldwork, in the evenings, back in the classroom, students then had sessions on data presentation, analysis and statistical skills to fully equip them prior to their own data collection in the summer holidays.

It wasn’t all work!  There was a chance to cheer on England in their semi-final of the Euros and a walk up to a viewing point on Blencathra for beautiful views overlooking Derwentwater.

Our students were a real credit to the school.  Despite an activity-laden trip, they were fully engaged and it was clear they enjoyed being in unfamiliar surroundings.  A big thanks to Mr Conroy for organising and to Mrs Covus and Miss Upton for their help on the trip and without whom, it wouldn’t have anywhere near as successful.