Geographical Association

Report by Ruth Potts

I drove up the M6 towards Blencathra Field Study Centre in Threlkeld, Cumbria for the Worldwise Challenge 2010. As I wound up the narrow road to the centre, the clouds descended, I turned off the ignition, and the rain started beating down on the roof of the car. What had I let myself in for?

However this was not to last. After dinner it brightened up and the 33 Year 9-11 students and their teachers were taken part way up Blencathra behind the centre, by the excellent centre staff, and shown the landscape that was to be their home for the next two days.

The students were immediately questioning their surroundings, keen to find out the cause of what they could see. The challenge, given them on return to the centre was to create an electronic presentation entitled 'What makes the area around Blencathra so special?'.

Bright and breezy the following morning, the weather not letting us down, the students split into two groups to experience their fieldwork day. The students were offered a range of activities that they could chose to adopt or not and the challenge was to collect ideas for their presentation to be shown the following day.

One group walked to the summit of Latrigg stopping to collect ideas for their presentations on the way. A lot of independent notes were taken as the students made choices about how to approach the fieldwork. Questions were asked and collated in a woodland area with a stream and again on various stops on the way up the hill.

On arrival at the summit many of the students exclaimed that this was the best moment of the weekend as they looked out on the view and comments such as 'awe inspiring, inspirational, breathtaking' were to be heard.

The students changed activities at lunchtime and then visited Low Bridge End Farm where the farmer explained how he has had to diversify his way of life with the changing times. They then walked on to view Tewet Tarn and to look at the view on the other side of the valley where they had been in the morning.

Back at the Centre after another fabulous meal the students were given the ground rules for their presentations. They were then allocated a laptop and room to work, which they did for a couple of hours before the laptops were locked away to stop them burning the midnight oil.

Sunday morning came and the students eagerly went on to finish their presentations. One student commented 'I now realise geography is not just out of a text book, it's about the feeling and atmosphere of a place.'

Another said, 'I loved being so close to the wildlife, we saw a lizard, a caterpillar, a badger sett and the lambs were lovely, they didn't run away when we got close to them'.

The presentations took place early afternoon. The quality of the geography was quite remarkable. One of the judges commented that she thought she had seen the best presentation she had ever witnessed at a Worldwise Challenge. The students made connections across geology, geomorphology and the human impact on the landscape very effectively. They clearly understood the special nature of the landscape and the impact on their understanding of geography was obvious.

After much deliberation from the judges a decision was made and the overall winner of the 2010 Blencathra Worldwise Challenge was declared to be Aberdeen Grammar School. There were a number of other prizes awarded that included:

• The most enthusiastic student: Jovia Gow (from Manor High School, Oadby)
• The best group for field work: Manor High School, Oadby (Team 1)
• The best presentation: Charters School, Ascot (Team 2)

Presentations were assessed on the quality of geography within the work and the reactions the students had had to environment in which they had spent the weekend. There was a great sense of personal achievement and all the students and staff had a fantastic inspiring weekend.

It was with a heavy heart that I put my bag in the boot and headed back down the M6 back to reality...

Ruth Potts
May 2010 

Get Involved

What better way to enthuse your students about geography than by giving them the opportunity to win a free weekend of field studies?

Worldwise incorporates a range of fun free-of-charge activities, and the more you and your students do, the greater your chances of winning a place at our Worldwise Challenge weekends funded by the Field Studies Council.

• Local Quiz: Our popular face-to-face quiz for teams of three (Years 8-10) - compete within your school or against others in your area
• Geography Awareness Week: A designated week in June each year for primary and secondary (including Post-16) students to undertake a range of activities on a geographical theme
• Online Quizzes: Online quiz questions in various formats for primary and secondary students accessed via the Worldwise website
• My Places: Primary and secondary (including Post-16) students upload images with accompanying text to explain why the place they have chosen is significant to them

Please note: some Worldwise activities require students to log in. As a teacher, you must first register your school on the site - you can do this here. After this has been completed students will be able to set up their own accounts - they can do this here. Registration is free and will give students access to their 'My Places', previous quiz scores and a printable Worldwise certificate.

Visit the Worldwise website to find out more or contact Richard Gill if you have any queries.

The Field Studies Council (FSC) contributes to the success of Worldwise by providing free use of their field centres for the immensely popular Worldwise Challenge weekends. These events are truly memorable for all concerned and would not be possible without their generous support.