Field Study Courses

AS and A2 Environmental Studies 

AS & A2 Environmental Studies for Island schools The Medina Valley Centre is an outside provider of AS and A2 Environmental Studies for a cluster of local schools on the Isle of Wight. More info about IOW Environmental Studies

The Isle of Wight is an ideal venue for field study courses in Environmental Studies as the island has many protected sites under U.K. and E.U. conservation designations. The Isle of Wight also offers a diverse range of field study sites, which lend themselves to relevant case studies on the course, all with close proximity to Medina Valley Centre.

The centre with its unique location and resources available to students, also demonstrates one of the key concepts of Sustainability in A2 Environmental Studies as it has a fully working wind turbine and solar panels, has been recognised as an Eco-Centre , and has been flying the 'Green Flag' since 2001

The Environmental Studies course uses field work case studies to illustrate key concepts. The field study case studies can also be used to collect valuable data which allows students to analyse and evaluate scientific techniques in conjunction with how science works.

As local providers of A Level Environmental Studies for IOW Schools, we offer high quality fieldwork for visiting schools to the Isle of Wight. Our field study tutors have developed long term data sets over the years which students can use to enhance their work and understanding of AS and A2 Environmental Studies. Our tutors are also active in their own research and have a unique local knowledge of the Isle of Wight, which supplemented by our extensive library and online resources, provides a valuable dimension to all our field study courses.

AS and A2 Environmental Studies field study courses are tailored to meet individual requirements.

Contact us for an informal discussion about what we can offer.

Popular options within a programme are outlined below:

G Hartland (2007)

Pollution of Local Streams: An investigation into biological and chemical methods used to assess water quality in a freshwater habitat. Students compare two or three rivers by taking a number of chemical measurements and by sampling the freshwater invertebrates found in a kick sample. The Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP) monitoring system is used to analyse the results.

Estuarine Ecosystem: Students carry out practical work to involve core sampling for invertebrates on mudflats of the Medina Estuary adjacent to the Centre and abiotic variables including tidal height, turbidity and salinity are also measured. The data is used to construct food chains, webs and pyramids of number and biomass and can be compared with data from other local ecosystems.

Conservation and Management of the Medina Estuary: The Medina Valley has been given high conservation status and has been designated an SSSI, Ramsar Site, SPA and SAC. AS and A Level Environmental Studies students investigate reasons why these designations have been given and students walk along the estuary footpath to record Land Use and potential conflicts with nature conservation to highlight problems of planning & development control within the Medina Valley.

Geology: This option ties in nicely with AQA Environmental Studies Module 2: The Lithosphere. Students explore St Catherine's Point & Alum Bay, are taught how the Isle of Wight is formed and how what is beneath our feet affects our use of the land. There might also be the opportunity to visit a working quarry on the Isle of Wight to consider how mineral resources are quarried and used.

Farm Visit: Students work in small groups on a farm to assess the potential production of farm fields, by measuring gradient, slope aspect, soil pH and texture and by mapping land use. A visit to Wight Salads can also be arranged so students can learn how to maximise agricultural yields and how biological control is used.

Rocky Seashore: Students are taken to Bembridge rocky shore to investigate the diversity of different parts of the shore and how different organisms interact to form food webs and competitive relationships. Pyramids of number, biomass and energy can be generated, which can be compared with data from other local ecosystems. The population of the dog whelk, Nucella lapilus, can also be investigated as its population decreased rapidly as a result of TBT (tributyltin) pollution in the early 1980s and is now in a state of recovery. There is also the opportunity to study global warming indicator species, such as the purple topshell, Gibbula umbilicalis, whose population has increased rapidly on the Isle of Wight in recent years.

Management of Tourism: The tourist honeypot sites that attract concentrations of tourists intrude on the Isle of Wight landscape and put pressure on the fragile environment. These honeypot sites, and the Green Tourism and Sustainable Tourism initiatives taking place on the Island, provide students with interesting and relevant case study material.