GCSE field trip to Norfolk, April 2nd - 4th 2014

Year 10 students should have received a letter about the GCSE fieldtrip to the north Norfolk coast in April 2014. Although some way off, it is essential that reply slips and monies are collected quickly. There is a deadline for deposits (£40) by the 18th October 2013. It would be much appreciated if parents could ensure this money is sent into school by this date. The entire cost of the trip is £140. You may, of course, pay the entire amount in one go if you wish. You may pay in cash, cheque or use the on-line school ParentPay system. Should you require financial assistance, I would urge you to get in touch ASAP.

We have travelled to the Kingswood centre in Overstrand for many years. It is a great place to study coastal environments. The fieldtrip is essential for students as they will use the information collected to write a piece of controlled assessment about how this stretch of coastline is distinctive. As a result of recent changes to the GCSE course, the controlled assessment is now worth 25% of the final grade.  

You can find out more information about the centre by clicking here

FIELDTRIPS - Norfolk (GCSE) and Cornwall (AS Level)

AS trip to Cornwall, Constantine Bay

A quick reminder for all Year 10 and Year 12 students and parents - reply slips, payments and medical forms need to be returned need to be returned as soon as possible for these trips.

The final payment for the GCSE trip is 7th December 2012, though earlier payment would be appreciated.
The A-level trip has a deadline of 30th November 2012 for the initial payment.


If you have misplaced your medical form then you can download one by following this link

Year 10 students measuring beach profiles in Norfolk

Both of these trips are essential parts of the course.The data collected on the GCSE trip to Norfolk will be used to write a controlled assessment that is now worth 25% of the final GCSE grade (changes made to the syllabus this year). The information gathered and the experience of different fieldwork techniques for the A-level trip will be helpful when students sit their Unit 2 exam in the summer.

Of course, an additional benefit for both trips is the idea of developing independence and the ability to mix and work with others. Building team skills and confidence is an important part of the fieldtrip experience, as well as learning about Geography.

Norfolk Trip - Rooming information

Don't forget to read the previous post as it tells you about kit-lists and such like. This post is simply about the number of people per room. You should organise yourselves and speak to each other about who you wish to share with. You can share with people from other classes, but just make sure that when you hand me your list of names that (1) everyone on the list has agreed to be in your room (I don't want to have peoples names appearing on more than one list) and that (2) the list is not a list that will make me go "oh no, I don't think that would be a sensible combination of people" - use you judgement and common sense on this matter!

The Girls - one corridor in a building called "Bailey". Not the easiest or best of rooming for you, unfortunately:
Room 14 - 10 girls
Room 12 - 10 girls
Room 10 - 10 girls
Room 9 - 8 girls
Room 2 - 12 girls

The Boys - two different areas (one called "Irwin" and one called "Hope"). Much smaller rooms than the girls.
Irwin Room 2 - 6 boys
Irwin Room 3 - 8 boys
Irwin Room 4 - 4 boys
Irwin Room 5 - 6 boys
Irwin Room 6 - 4 boys
Irwin Room 7  - 4 boys
Irwin Room 8 - 6 boys
Irwin Room 9 - 8 boys
Hope Room 2 - 4 boys
Hope Room 3 - 6 boys
Hope Room 4 - 4 boys
Hope Room 5 - 4 boys
Hope Room 6 - 8 boys

Year 10 Fieldtrip - Norfolk (30th April to 2nd May 2012)

We are rapidly approaching the time for the Norfolk Fieldtrip. I will continue to post information up here about the trip as I receive it. At present I cannot tell you about the rooming allocation, but will do so soon. You can prepare by starting conversations with others about who you may wish to share rooms with.

All food is provided for you, though you will need to have money or a packed lunch for the journey down.

We are due to leave at 9.00am from Upper school on the Monday, so you should be in school at about 8.40am so we can get everything sorted before boarding the bus.

The sort of things you will need to bring are:

• Sensible clothing. Layers of clothing are better as they can be taken off or added depending on the weather. The coast can get windy and you should make sure you have enough warm clothing. If you have waterproof clothing that could be useful. Jeans tend not to be the best things to wear as if they get wet they will be uncomfortable.
• You will be walking about the coastline, so sensible foootwear is needed. If you have walking boots then bring them.
• You should bring toiletries (toothbrush/paste, deodorant, shower gel/soap etc).
• It would be useful if you could take photos, but the school will be providing photos when you return that you can use in your controlled assessment. 
• If you do take any valuable items then you should be aware that it is at your own risk. The last time we visited the centre there were no locks on dormitory doors.
• You should bring pens and pencils.

Remember, that it is vital that you know exactly what is going on during the trip and that you are part of all of the data collection process as you will be examined on these when we return and you will not be given much (if any) help. The 1200 words that you write will be marked and is worth 15% of your final grade.

Ask your teacher if you have any questions.

Year 12 - Cornwall trip

The details for the trip are as follows:

You must be at school on Monday 19th March at 7.45am - yes, that's early but it is a long journey to Cornwall, as you will know, Cornwall suffers from it's isolation. Journey times are long!

You will be provided with dinner on each night whilst away and from Tuesday morning onwards you will also get breakfast. However, you will not be provided with lunch so need to bring enough money to buy something whilst we are out.

The sort of things you could bring are:
Waterproofs (if jeans get wet they are uncomfortable)
Walking boots and wellies may be useful for beaches
Layers of clothing (it is easier to take off layers of clothing if you get hot or add layers if you get cold) and things to keep you warm (the coast can get windy and cold)
Towel
Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant and so on)
Pens, pencils etc


Useful items could include a camera -but you must be aware that the school takes o responsibility for any items that you bring along.

I would hope that we will be back between4-5pm on the Friday, but this is subject to change and you will need to ring parents on the journey back to give them a clearer idea of arrival time.

If you have any questions about the trip you should ask your teacher or email Mr Bains on H.Bains@ksnadmin.ksn.org.uk

Year 12 Cornwall trip, March 21st-24th

Here is some information for you in preparation for next weeks trip

What to take:
You will be provided with breakfast and dinner each day but you will need to make your own provision for lunch. This means you should bring enough money with you for lunch each day. Obviously you can bring snacks and things to bolster your lunches!

You will be provided with bedding at the hostel but need to bring a towel.
You should bring toiletries and sensible clothing. This means if you have waterproofs then bring them, walking boots and wellies if you plan to get into water.The weather can be changeable so you need to be prepared for rain, wind and sunshine! Layers of clothing is the best idea, so you can add/remove depending on the weather.

You may wish to bring some things to keep you entertained, but avoid bring expensive equipment (anything you do bring is brought at your own risk). There is a room with a TV in it and, I think, a DVD player. You can bring a film if you wish, but to be honest there won't be lots of spare time - there's a lot of work to cram in, both during the day and the evening!

Itinery for the trip:
Monday:
Arrive at school for 7.45am at the very latest. The coach will depart at 8.00am - do not be late.
We will stop for a break/lunch on the way and aim to be in Padstow for about 2pm. You will then have an hour to look around Padstow and do some of the tasks you will find in the booklet you are provided with.
We will then head onto the youth hostel at Treyarnon Bay where after settling in you will walk to the nearby beach at Constantine in order to do some measurements.
After the evening meal you will be do some preparation work for Tuesday.

Tuesday:
After breakfast you will go back to Constantine Bay to meet a beach ranger who will talk to you about the management of the area and the sand dunes. You will also take some measurements. This will take till about 10.30am when we return to the hostel to change and then head out for Watergate Bay. At Watergate Bay you will do some tasks from the booklet. Those who wish to surf will have their lesson at about 1pm and then afterwards you will all meet the manager and managing director of the Extreme Sports Academy to see how they have helped with the rebranding of the area.
After all the tasks are completed you will then head for St Austell for a game of bowling and then back to the hostel for evening meal. After dinner you will do some more preparation and answer an exam question!

Wednesday:
Leave for the Eden project after breakfast at about 9.30am. We are booked in for a talk about the impact of the Eden project on the rebranding process in Cornwall at 12.30pm for an hour. You will have some time before the talk and after to explore Eden.
We will leave Eden between 2-3pm and head for Carlyon Bay where at 4pm you will meet a representative from CEG, the company involved in the development of "The Beach" project. Then at 5pm you will meet a panel of local people from the pressure group Carlyon Bay Watch, to hear what their objections to the plans are.
An evening meal is booked for 6.15 at an Indian restuarant. You will need to pre-order your meal, so your teacher should ask you to choose a main from the menu! After the meal you'll head back to the hostel.

Thursday:
After breakfast you will answer an exam question or two before getting the coach home at about 10.00am. We should be back in Kenilworth around 3.30. There will be a lunch stop on the way.

You will all be fit and well and ready for school on Friday!

Hopefully this answers any questions you have. If you are still unsure of anything then ask your teacher. If you are surfing you MUST have paid your £20 before the day of the trip. I need to give the surfing man definite numbers, so don't think you can oull out on the day!

Apologies to my class for my continued absence. It's not out of choice. Once I have been fixed I shall be back in school, probably after Easter.

I hope you all have a great time on the trip and I wish I was going along as well.

Mr Bains

Year 10

Thank you for all pupils who worked hard and behaved well on the trip Monday and Tuesday. We now have data that we can use for our controlled assessment which will begin next week. This week your teacher will talk to you about the fieldtrip and how to approach your work.

I have in my possession one pair of wellington boots and a pair of girls black boots. If you didn't collect these from the coach please come and see me at some point (or they're going to end up in lost property)

Year 10 trip to Wales - weather update

Hopefully you're all packed and ready to go - don't forget to bring a pen and pencil with you. The latest weather report is that it will be dry and a little sunny with some patchy cloud, with top temperatures of around 16 degrees. So that sounds pretty positive and good weather for getting into a river - but be aware that the weather could change suddenly, so still come prepared for rain!

Click on the title to be taken to the local newspapers weather forcast.

Further advice about what to bring is a few posts down.