A LEVEL GEOGRAPHERS VISIT GUERNSEY

Paul C, Year 12 writes...

Our Year 12 A-level geographers went on a three-day trip to the beautiful island of Guernsey. We had a blend of physical and human geography, exploring Hern island for coursework exercises, and conducted interview and questionnaires with the local community - we also developed valuable memories.

Our flight to Guernsey was early, meaning we met at Gatwick at 6am. George showed up without his passport, which led to using his Oyster card as his ID, which he nearly lost while on the trip. This wasn’t the only thing forgotten, as Deniz left his suitcase at security and Bertie nearly lost his phone. Going through security, everyone got stopped one-by-one, due to the ‘Clinometers’ that we were carrying in our bags. Upon arrival, in a flight which was almost empty, Matteo decided to leave his bag on the plane. It’s fair to say the start of our trip was chaotic!

Through interviews and questionnaires on the first day, we delved into the cultural, social, and economic dynamics of Guernsey. We used the data gathered to draw conclusions and create presentations regarding our questions. Groups were presented with the opportunity to have long format, thought-provoking conversations with both locals, exploring topics such as tourism, the financial sector, Guernsey’s culture, and population migration. These interviews gave us information which was far more personal and fascinating than anything we could have seen in a textbook.

Over the three days, we had to prepare presentations regarding our studies which created a sense of competition among groups. We speculated around topics like the impact of the financial sector on Guernsey’s culture and demographic, where two groups presented similar data but vaguely different conclusions. For the presentations, we were given tough questions from Ms Deedat and Ms Maroudi. However, these questions helped us understand the thought and methodology which should go into our NEA.

We spent our second day on Hern island, travelling from beach to beach in order to take relevant measurements for our coursework. We walked on picturesque beaches throughout the day in good spirits.

Alongside our academic pursuits, we also had unexpected adventures when the brave went swimming under the rain, in the ice-cold water, only to miss the bus and get lost. We also finished the day with a celebratory dinner for Dylan’s birthday.

Our A Level Geography trip to Guernsey was an absolute adventure that went beyond academic pursuits, as well as providing valuable knowledge and insight for our NEA and geographical studies. This trip effectively created cherished memories and unexpected experiences.

Thank you to Ms Maroudi and Ms Deedat for organising and putting on a successful trip.