News & Headteacher Blogs

32 Geography A-level students (our largest cohort ever) have spent a long weekend at Nettlecombe Field Study Centre in Somerset, the UK’s leading geography fieldwork centre. They visited Minehead and Porlock Bay to complete their fieldwork for the Non-Examined-Assessment (NEA).

From Friday 21st to Tuesday 25th March 2025, they had the opportunity to take part in first-class fieldwork, collecting vital data for their Independent Investigations. These hands-on experiences are an essential part of the course, helping students develop key skills and a deeper understanding of geography in specific coastal locations. Fieldwork is a crucial element of A Level Geography, and attending these trips gives students the best possible foundation for their studies and exams. 

Expertly led by Trip leader Mrs Gough and supported by Mrs Hicks and Miss Greenwood, the students have had a wonderful experience exploring the physical and human geography aspects of these locations. We were really impressed with the enthusiasm and engagement of all students on the trip and the Field Studies Centre staff commented on how polite they all were.  The NEA is 20% of their A-Level mark and the students are required to complete a full geographic enquiry, deciding on a project focus and methodology and completing their data collection independently. 

It really was a jam packed weekend and capruted the spirit of many of our school values - courage, ambition, integrity and responsibility.