During the last week of spring term 39 Sixth form students studying AS Biology recently took part in their annual field course to Pembrokeshire.

JKHS is very unusual in having staff with such a high level of fieldwork experience and expertise, especially in the teaching of sea shore field ecology. In this case in the form of Mr Burton, Mr Herbert (brought out of retirement for the field course!), Mrs Parker and ex JKHS Student Jocelyn Presdee who is now a Zoology student at Sheffield University. The focus of the course is to gain practical experience and develop observational and mathematical skills in sea shore ecology and data analysis in readiness for the AS examinations. Students are then expected to conduct a detailed individual scientific investigation of their own choice relating to invertebrate or algal ecology on the sea shore. The investigation contributes towards students overall grade at A2.

Based at YHA Manorbier with its excellent facilities and spectacular local coastline, students spent the first few days in the field learning how to choose and use a range of Biology fieldwork techniques at West Angle Bay, Sawdern Point and Freshwater West. The spring tides experienced this week were exceptional and revealed the lowest areas of the sea shore, enabling students to see the ecological changes that occur from the lower shore to the upper shore.

The mornings and evenings were kept very busy with a mixture of teaching sessions and advanced level independent work. A field course day is not at all like a school day and often students don’t finish work until after 9pm (even later for the really keen ones!) One of the key aims of the field course is for students to undertake a practical investigation of their own choice and collect the data required to statistically test their own hypotheses. This always develops the student’s level of independent working and is an excellent preparation for those who go on to university later on.

M Burton – Deputy Head Teacher
F Smith – Head of Science