Our Ref: MB/DMB
23 September 2015
Dear Parent/Guardian
Re: 6th form AS Geography fieldwork Residential visit to Dorset
7th-9th October 2015.
As part of this year’s AS Geography course, I would like to offer students the
opportunity to undertake a fieldwork course in at Brenscombe Outdoor Centre near
Corfe Castle - http://www.brenscombeoutdoor.co.uk/. We have been to this centre for
the last five years; the accommodation is very comfortable and the food is very good
indeed.
You may recall that I wrote to you a couple of weeks ago to give you prior warning of
this trip and the potential request for payment in late September. Hopefully, you
received this communication from your child. We go in October to provide the students
with extra time to complete the associated follow-up work, but this does mean that we
have little time to make the arrangements for the trip. With students changing subjects
in the first two weeks of term, it is only now that I have confirmed numbers to calculate
the final cost.
The fieldwork groups will depart from school on Wednesday morning (meet by the
garages behind the canteen at 8:45am) and will return around 4pm on the Friday.
The itinerary will include visiting Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove, Old Harry Rocks,
Studland Bay, Hurst Castle Spit, Barton on Sea, Highcliffe, Hengistbury Head,
Mudeford, Swanage, Durlston Head, Portland Bill, Chesil Beach and Kimmeridge Bay.
All of these locations are used in the teaching of the Coasts unit. There will also be an
opportunity to carry out beach studies in Ringstead Bay, the data from which will be
used in the summer examination (Unit 2: Skills). The student results on the skills paper
have improved dramatically since the introduction of the trip; I can’t stress highly
enough the need to come on the trip as a result. The work will then be used again in
paper 4A at Y13 level too.
In the AS exam this summer there will be a 1 hour Skills paper, including a section on
the fieldwork that students have undertaken. Questions relating to the primary data
collected and the processing of that data using a variety of statistical techniques are a
key component of this paper. There will be a study session each evening to facilitate
the Statistical part of the fieldwork, in the centre’s lecture theatre. Past students have
always reflected that experience gained carrying out Coastal studies in the field was
most helpful in terms of exam preparation.
The cost of the fieldwork, transport, all meals and accommodation is included in the
cost of £150.00. This is a curriculum based trip and therefore students should attend
as the work is crucial for their exam. A deposit of £75.00 is due immediately and the
balance of £75.00 by Monday 5 October 2015. You can pay the full £150 in one go if
you prefer. It is not common practice for us to request such a figure at short notice,
hence the letter I wrote back at the start of September to give you warning of this. If
you have any problems meeting this request, please contact the school.
Please do not send post-dated cheques. Payments and accompanying paperwork
must be handed in on or before the deadline date outlined to avoid jeopardising your
child’s place on the trip/activity. Should your child withdraw from the activity please
be aware that deposits are non-refundable, and any further payments can only be
refunded if the place can be filled by another student on a waiting list, or if the
withdrawal is for an insurable reason. If there are significant changes to the cost of
the trip, these may have to be passed on to the student. Be assured that we will try to
keep such costs to a minimum.
Parents who are in receipt of Income Support or Child Tax Credit or Job Seekers
Allowance or support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 will not
be charged for board and lodgings and those who come into this category are asked
to write to the Head in confidence to make the Governors and Head aware of their
situation. Those families who previously qualified for pupil premium funding under the
free school meal criteria at any time in the last six years, will be eligible to receive a
subsidy towards the cost of the trip. If you would like to apply for a subsidy for this trip
please indicate on the attached consent form. No student will be omitted from the
activity if his/her parents are unable to contribute. However, I must make it equally
clear that in accordance with the Governors’ statement this activity may not take place
if parents are reluctant to support it with their contributions full or in part.
Any families who are experiencing financial hardship are asked to contact Mrs B
Ludlam, Director of Sixth Form Learning, as other support may be available.
We would advise that students do not to take valuables out on school activities,
however, should they be taken parents should ensure personal possessions are
adequately insured.
It is the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to update the school should there be any
changes to the medical information about their child. Please communicate these to
Mrs Brettell, Business Support Manager.
Please complete and return the consent form and monies (cheques made payable to
Oaklands Catholic School) to the Finance Office. Alternatively you can pay online.
I hope that it will be possible for your son/daughter to attend. Please do not hesitate
to contact me for any further details – m.bamford@oaklandscatholicschool.org . I have
attached a copy of the itinerary with the kit list for your information.
Yours sincerely
Mr M Bamford
Head of Geography
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PLEASE RETURN TO THE FINANCE OFFICE
Re: 6th form AS Geography fieldwork residential visit to Dorset
7th-10th October 2015.
I confirm that I have parental responsibility for
Name…………………………………………………………… Form……………………
I wish to apply for Pupil Premium
I wish to apply for 16 – 19 bursary fund
I enclose payment of £
I will pay online
He/she is in good health and I consent to him/her taking part in the programme detailed
in your letter.
I understand and accept that it is my responsibility to update the school should there
be any changes to the medical information about my child. Please communicate these
to Mrs Brettell, Business Support Manager.
Signed………………………………………………………….Date………………………