By Mrs McPhail (Geography Teacher)

Year 9 students visited Castleton in Derbyshire for two days of Geography fieldwork last week (21st-22nd September). With waterproofs at the ready the students were equipped to deal with all weathers – and we did in fact experience rain and sunshine in equal measure.

Learning outside the classroom is invaluable and the Geography fieldwork that is completed enables students to apply their knowledge. As the Geographical Association states ‘Fieldwork is an essential part of a geographical education as well as being a GCSE and A level/IB requirement. It enables young people to develop their subject knowledge, gain a range of skills that are difficult to develop in the classroom and helps them to understand the ‘messiness’ of geographical reality’.

Whilst driving through Sheffield, the students saw at first hand the way in which the city has been regenerated. Driving past Sheffield Forgemasters reminded them of the industrial heritage this city has and the closeness of the Peak District National Park to the buzzing university area is always a surprise for the girls and soon we were witnessing beautiful limestone scenery. 

First stop was Ladybower Reservoir, where the pupils learnt about the Derwent Valley and the way in which the dam was used to prepare the British in their attack on the German dams in WW2.

This year the evidence of recent heavy rains meant whilst the reservoir was not full it was fuller than last year.

Then onward to Castleton, before a long walk around Mam Tor admiring limestone scenery and the beautiful Hope Valley. Careful negotiation of the collapsed road (due to landslides) was a highlight for many girls who could well imagine the problems of being cut off. The students sketched and annotated diagrams and walked through the spectacular Winnats Pass before heading to the YHA. It rained a little but not enough to dampen everyone’s enthusiasm.

Friday was another packed day, starting with Treak Cliff Cavern to see spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. Students then visited two sites along Peakshole Water and conducted river surveys. Everyone enjoyed the chance to experience new skills and bring back plenty of information to use for the assessment back in the classroom.

This was a trip attended by the majority of the Year group and so BGS was out in force in Castleton. For many of the students this was their first visit to the Peak District and the sense of awe and wonder was clear. For our new students who joined Year 9 in September this was also a great bonding experience and whilst at first daunting proved to be an opportunity to show resilience.

To see updates on all the exciting things going on in Geography please follow @BGS_Geography here.

View the picturesque photos here.