A blog post by Helen Winter, Chichester Harbour Education Officer.
As the exam season is now upon us, I reflect on all the students that have visited us at Chichester Harbour in the last year, my first year as Education Officer at the Education Centre here at Chichester Harbour Conservancy. This time last year I was saying goodbye to my school where I had been a Geography teacher for 22 years and embarking on a new chapter of my life. Having taught Geography up to A Level for a total of 25 years I realised that my passion was firmly rooted in learning in the field.
Future decision makers
Being in the beautiful surroundings of our National Landscape of Chichester Harbour I am able to speak passionately about the landscape that we almost take for granted and try to embed its importance into our visiting students. From pre-schoolers, just discovering the wonder of the world around them, to those now taking their A Level Geography, Biology or Environmental Science exams. These young people are about to enter the adult world where some could be making important decisions regarding our local, national and global environment in the near future.
Life-changing experiences
Fieldwork in any subject helps students to connect with a local place; it will develop and extend thinking, adding value to any classroom experiences. It creates ‘memorable moments’ engendering awe and wonder and an ability to think holistically. Not only that, fieldwork can also stimulate an interest in the environment and the outdoors, be a social and shared experience that can motivate, help develop confidence, teamwork and collaboration which, on occasion, can be life-changing.
It is wonderful to hear students, who are reticent to answer questions in class, really get involved and demonstrate their knowledge and excel in the practical tasks. To hear how proud students are when they push themselves out of their comfort zone to hold a crab or wade in a steam. or those that have travelled from as far away as west London and see the sea and feel the sand for the very first time.
Learning outside – from toddlers to teenagers
As an education centre we run many trips to the harbour. From preschool Harbour Tots sessions to GCSE and A Level trips to help prepare students for their exams and, in the case of Geography A Level, their Non-Examined Assessment. An independent investigation worth 20% of their final grade. Just last month a local school bought their A Level Biology students and commented on their experience:
“Once again, we had a truly brilliant day with you. The sessions were not only expertly delivered but also incredibly engaging for our pupils. They were absolutely buzzing with enthusiasm throughout and came away with a real sense of excitement about ecology and fieldwork.
“Your team’s expert knowledge of the saltmarsh ecosystem was evident and pitched perfectly for our group. The pupils gained so much from seeing theory brought to life in such a unique and hands-on setting. The crab transects were a particular highlight – a fun and memorable way to explore sampling techniques and data collection in a real-world context.
“We are always so impressed by the quality of your sessions and the obvious care and effort you put into making the experience both educational and enjoyable. It’s a real highlight of our academic year, and we’re very grateful for the time, planning, and passion that goes into it.”
We have an excellent team of teachers here, all passionate about learning and giving the visiting students the best experience of this National Landscape as possible. We are also supported by dedicated volunteers; many are ex-teachers themselves and are very thankful for all that they do.