Students who opt to study Geography at A Level have the opportunity to take their studies into the open air and contextualise their learning outside of Wallington. And so, last week, the Year Twelve AS Geographers set off on their annual field trip to Dorset.

Over four days, we collated a wide range of data as well as learning data collection, presentation and evaluation techniques. After a long coach journey, we started in Boscombe Pier, where we were met by two specialist teachers. We learnt of the large increase in the levels of deprivation and inequality that Boscombe had suffered from: initially a thriving Victorian seaside destination, Boscombe is now an underfunded town with very limited opportunities for growth. Under the guidance of our teachers, we then performed a range of initial data collection techniques as complicated as clone town surveys, yet as simple as emotional mapping. I found it particularly interesting how some areas such as Churchill gardens were so deprived that it was in the top 1% most deprived areas yet areas less than a kilometer away such as Shelley Park was much less deprived—in the top 68%.

On the second day, we took a short coach journey to Swanage Bay, part of the world-renowned Jurassic Coastline. Here we learnt new skills such as field sketches and built on other skills such as calculating Beach Profiles. Experiencing these marine processes and landforms in real lifetime helped me gain an appreciation of the scale of these coastal monuments. We also learnt about the ways in which the Bay was being protected via a series of groynes, a sea wall and beach nourishment.

After lunch, we took another coach ride to Lulworth. One short 15-minute walk later, we arrived at Durdle Door. Teachers and students alike were taken aback by the beauty of the Arch which had formed through thousands of years of coastal and sub ariel erosion. Almost automatically, everyone took out their cameras to capture it. Another short walk later, we reached Lulworth Cove, and the reactions were similar. After a series of more excessive photographs, we returned to the house and drafted our enquiries as well as what methods we would use to try and answer our enquiry.

The next day, we were given more freedom as to what we would want to investigate. Personally, I had chosen a human geography focused enquiry and returned to the high street to conduct some primary data methods. By performing a greater volume and detail in my tests, I was able to gain a deeper understanding and nuanced opinion on whether Boscombe’s recent regeneration had been successful or not. With some spare time in the afternoon, I also wandered along the Boscombe beach and took in a picturesque sunset. By the evening we had begun to decide on our data presentation methods and selected some statistical tests we could use to emphasize our arguments. Instead of a basic bar-graph, we tried to use more visual and different techniques such as a radial chart or a scatter graph.

On the final day, we had a short lesson on how to use ArcGIS, an industry standard application that would really make our enquiries flashy and convincing. Before long, we had said our goodbyes to Dorset and were already back on the coach to London. An overwhelming accumulation of a slower pace of life, stunning views and invaluable fieldwork knowledge really made me enjoy the field trip.

What an incredible experience!

Bruno, Year Twelve