Upon arrival in Taunton we were met by the Nettlecombe Court’s Lead Tutor, Robyn who expertly delivered a session on factors affecting urban change, which the students then actively investigated through measuring changes in the land use and environmental quality as they progressed further from the Central Business District.

After conducting their initial investigation we carried on further into Somerset to arrive at the beautiful Nettlecombe Court Field Studies Centre, which is nestled right on the edge of Exmoor National Park, where the group were then based for the next two days. Whilst there were a number of scheduled lessons at the centre students also had time to explore the building and its surroundings, including the opportunity to see a wonderful starlit sky on the first night.

The most memorable part of the trip involved a visit on Tuesday to Porlock Bay to investigate the famous shingle ridge that runs within the bay from Porlock Weir to Hurlstone Point. The students devised their own methodologies to investigate changes to both the beach shape and size as well as the shape and size of sediment on the beach itself; they had to cope with unseasonally cold and wet weather but were very determined and did an excellent job.

Well done to the Y11 geographers for being such excellent ambassadors for the school.