A learning curve for the students began with a scenic drive through the Kent countryside early one Wednesday morning. Our literacy target was achieved with the complexity of grammar surrounding sheep: how many were in the field? It was definitely not 23 sheeps, and one sheep does not equate to a shupe! With everyone’s grammar corrected and in order, we arrived at Pett Level, a small coastal village 5 miles from Hastings on the East Sussex coast.

The students enthusiastically carried out a number of investigations on the beach whilst the tide was on the rise. They measured the rate at which sediment was moving along the beach, a process called longshore drift; they measured the amount of sediment that had built up against man made groynes; they measured the profile of the beach; and completed field sketches of a number of coastal management defences.

Ergen Hoxhaj: ” I enjoyed the group work that was given on the beach. This trip helped me to understand longshore drift and the effects of coastal erosion.”

After lunch, eaten in the glorious sunshine on the beach, we moved from Pett Level to Hastings. The students had the opportunity to explore the old town of Hastings and investigate how tourism was affecting the area. The students have done NPCS proud and we look forward to seeing their project write up completed over the final couple of weeks of term.