On the morning of 26th September 2018, the Woodham Geography department and 56 Year 11 students journeyed to Hamsterley Forest to undertake their physical Geography fieldwork. The fieldwork is a compulsory component of the GCSE, and worth 40% of the final GCSE.
As the group arrived at Hamsterley the mist had barely lifted over the hills of Weardale, with the haze adding to the ambient conditions. The group’s task was to measure Bedburn Beck at four separate locations, in preparation for their GCSE exams. Wellington boots were a must! Students will be questioned on what they did, why they did it, what they found and how they would improve their work, amongst other possibilities.
Into the afternoon, the rays of Autumnal sunshine shone through the remaining swathe of green and golden leaves, with the temperature a brief reminder of the summer’s relentless heat. Darcy Kent, a Year 11 Geography student commented “it has been sticky, sweaty and wet (rivers tend to be)… but a very good day all round”. The Geography department at Woodham strives to offer students opportunities to visit, explore and experience the landscapes and places of the UK.
Mr Zielinski, Head of Geography at Woodham Academy stated “Since the GCSE reforms, Geography specifications have focused more clearly on the UK and fieldwork. It has been a major focus of the department to thoroughly prepare students for the fieldwork elements of the GCSE. This was one of the key reasons for Woodham’s success this summer”.
The Geography department achieved excellent results in the summer with 16% of students achieving the highest grades 7-9 and 5% receiving the highest grade nationally a 9 (best results since 2010). Students in Geography beat their GCSE target grades by one fifth of a grade on average. A fantastic “Achievement for All”!
