Residential field trip to Flatford Mill for Geography PGCE Trainees
Trainees studying on our (Secondary) Geography PGCE recently visited Flatford Mill in Suffolk for a residential field trip to learn how to deliver fieldwork to key stage pupils, KS4 and to support the new A-level independent study (NEA).
FSC Flatford Mill is the first and original field study centre set up in the UK during the 1940’s. It is the Centre for Constable Country, set amidst the quintessentially English countryside of the Dedham Vale in Suffolk and sits on the banks of the River Stour. Flatford Mill runs residential field study visits for school students and provides a very wide range of natural history and art courses.
During the trip, trainees had the opportunity to run fieldwork, experience fieldwork as a pupil and develop new fieldwork techniques which support independent fieldwork techniques whilst developing subject knowledge. All activities support the development of investigations and enquiry learning.
Course leader, Sharon Reilly said “This trip supports trainees to understand the value and opportunities of fieldwork which supports geography but also the wider curriculum developing skills, working outside, building relationships and supporting well-being. It also supports the development of their own subject knowledge related to rivers, developing a sense of place, representation of place, urban areas and tourism”.
The trainees had a great weekend, and reported back that they felt they had a better understanding of the expectations of fieldwork for GCE and A’ level”. The group spent time together building strong friendship links, creating a geography community of their own to help support each other during the PGCE.
Christina Camm • September 28, 2022