We have produced an excellent range of studies that make the most of the diverse and inspirational environments that surround our centres. Created by experts, our field study courses successfully meet the requirements set by students, teachers and exam boards.

A Proven Approach

Fieldwork is designed to enable students to use and practice a variety of fieldwork techniques and to build their subject knowledge. Specific case studies reinforce learning by both exploring the natural environment and focussing minds on enquiry-based learning objectives. Developing and critiquing suitable hypotheses challenges students to collect and present qualitative and quantitative data in a logical and structured manner. Decision-making exercises help to further build essential key skills, vital to research success.

A Range Of Courses To Compliment The Curriculum

Our GCSE, AS, A2, SQA H & AH modules include over thirty thematic studies each written to match the specific requirements of the five most widely used examining boards. Modules may be selected in any combination and can be adapted to fit with your schools’ scheme of work. An experienced member of our Field Studies team will call you prior to your visit to discuss your specific requirements. A week’s stay would typically allow students to complete three or four field study modules. By and large, our instructors do all the teaching the courses require, but we are happy to switch to team-teaching if this helps to shape the course to your school’s requirements. ICT followup sessions also run in this way, however if students are completing their controlled assessment, sessions can be facilitated by our Instructors to the assessment level designated by your exam board. We require that teachers are also present to supervise in these cases. Please discuss your teaching preference when you make your booking.

ICT That Makes The Grade

All modules include follow-up sessions in the ICT lab, where students may prepare quality reports about their fieldwork to be illustrated with photos, graphs and charts. Our ICT facilities offer a 1:1 student / computer ratio and students’ work is burnt onto CD in time for departure. Students use a variety of Microsoft educational software packages to help analyse and present their data. Specialist software solutions also allow plotting of species distribution with kite graphs. ICT follow-ups are a powerful way to synthesise information. By turning data into charts and graphs, students are helped to visualise and interpret some of the more difficult research concepts they encounter.

The Right Equipment

With each trip into the field we supply all the specialist sampling & measuring equipment required, including flow meters, digital anemometers, quadrats, ranging poles and clinometers. Digital cameras are used during the day and the pictures can be accessed back in the labs, to be incorporated into students’ work. We’ve recently introduced AEGIS 3, a state-of-the-art digital mapping tool designed specifically for schools. Students can use it to place multiple layers of data over a map, analysing patterns and spatial variations. Schools can make use of AEGIS 3 both on the course and for follow-up. If you prefer, we can also offer Excel templates.

Personalised Learning

The individual learning needs of each student are addressed by the varied teaching styles we use both inside and outside the classroom. In addition to this, peer support is encouraged and facilitated as students work in teams, building on their personal and social skills through their fieldwork experience. This collaborative atmosphere also gives teachers the chance to gain a new perspective on the way their students work & interact with one another.

A Flexible Daily Timetable

Your arrival day could begin with one of our adventure activities to allow students to ‘stretch their legs’ after their journey. This would be followed by dinner and an evening classroom session to introduce the module to be studied the following day & discuss methods & objectives. Students will also be given worksheets to take out into the field. The days will be spent making measurements and collecting data in the field, then students will return to a follow-up session in an ICT lab to collate, analyse and summarise their findings.

Latest Adventure Activities

Field Studies groups often prefer to maximise the number of modules they can study and your week’s timetable may be completely filled with fieldwork, classroom sessions and lab work. But, for those looking to stretch their muscles as well as their minds, we offer a host of team building and challenging adventure activities, such as 3G Swing, Caving, Climbing, Archery, Fencing, Abseiling, Team Challenge and Giant Zipwire. We can incorporate as many, or as few, activities into your personal timetable as you like. Just let us know your preferences when you book your trip.