Alton Castle is a Catholic Education Centre in rural Staffordshire, just up the road from Alton Towers.
Geography / Geology
Geography / Geology
The Royal Geographical Society defines Geography as the study of Earth’s landscapes, peoples, places and environments. It is, quite simply, about the world in which we live. Geology is related, mostly focussing on the formation of the rocks, mountains and various crusts of the earth.
Geography combine the physical and human aspects of life and is concerned with the understanding of ‘the dynamics of cultures, societies and economies, and the environment’.
The RGS points out that Geography informs us about:
- The places and communities in which we live and work
- Our natural environments and the pressures they face
- The interconnectedness of the world and our communities within it
- How and why the world is changing, globally and locally
- How our individual and societal
- actions contribute to those changes
- The choices that exist in managing our world for the future
- The importance of location in business and decision-making
Most visits associated with geography involve the study of the physical aspects of geography. Many secondary schools organise field studies experiences and visits to coalmines, quarries, mountainous areas, flat lands, geological digs. For the political, social, people-orientated aspects of geography there are even greater opportunities. Enterprising and imaginative geography teachers can, and , do arrange visits to specific museums and other venues. Transport museums are probably the most popular. But census records, military records, factory records and visits to factories figure prominently in some geography teachers’ syllabuses.
Main organisations:
Royal Geographical Association (with the Institute of British Geographers)
Geologists' Association who organise the annual Festival of Geology
National Association of Mining Organisations
Inclusion: NASEN
Thought of visiting?
Royal Geographical Society London and Regional Events
Lakeland Sheep and Wool Centre, Cockermouth
Museum of British Road Transport, Coventry
The National Tramway Museum, Matlock
East Anglian Railway Museum, Essex
Stephenson Railway Museum, Tyne and Wear Museums
Venues for this Curriculum
A small museum packed with fascinating information, and full of fun things to do and see. Dress up as a monk, build a castle, see an observation beehive and more. Free audio guide available.
School and Group Visits
"Something for everyone of all ages" is the motto of Sidmouth Museum through its interpretation of Natural History and the Jurassic Coast.
Cromer’s past in an enchanting nutshell
Step inside a tiny fisherman's cottage and imagine life in Cromer at the end of the 19th century. Colourful displays chart the town’s history as an early Victorian seaside resort, resplendent with fine hotels and scandalous mixed bathing.
The original purpose built Kingswood centre overlooks the picturesque beauty of the Wrekin and Clee Hills
An exciting venue for outdoor adventure and learning in a picturesque and easily accessible location, Staffordshire provides a welcoming and friendly environment
Our original Kingswood centre, where guests instantly feel at home
Particularly suited for younger students where all activities are close to the main buildings
One of the UK's leading outdoor activity centres
Dukeshouse Wood has had a whole raft of new adventure activity features installed to become one of the country’s leading residential activity centres. The activity park in the grounds houses many of these new additions including a quad bike track, zipwire, outdoor laser, Jacob’s ladder, an outdoor climbing and abseiling tower and leap of faith.
Hotham Alpine Resort operates all year round and is located in the Australian Alpine National Park only 4.5 hours drive from Melbourne and 8 hours from Sydney.
Moorland nature reserve with unusual and unique rock formations
The Bridestones has peculiar shaped rocks, heather moorland, ancient woodland, herb-rich meadows. Blakey Topping has superb all-round views.
This rare opportunity takes you into the old Braich Goch slate mine, in Mid Wales, which was first worked in 1836 and abandoned by the miners around 40 years ago. More than 130 years of history is captured inside waiting to be discovered.
Situated in the heart of Cardiff’s elegant civic centre, today it houses Wales’s national archaeology, art, geology and natural history collections as well as major touring and temporary exhibitions.
Situated in nine acres of parkland on the doorstep of the beautiful Peak District, this centre includes superb watersports facilities
With the beautiful Peak District on its doorstep, this friendly and inclusive centre provides the ideal destination for younger students to experience the great outdoors within a secure environment
Watersports centre on the Scout Dike reservoir, adjacent to the centre, offering exciting activities including canoeing and raft building
Heritage centre at Llanberis, bringing back to life the inheritance of the North Wales slate industry.
Dinorwig Quarry closed in 1969. Today, rather than fashioning wagons and forging rails, the workshops tell a very special story: the story of the Welsh slate industry.
Explore Britain's biggest gorge from the dramatic cliffs rising 450ft to the stunning stalactite caverns
Cheddar Gorge is one of England's most iconic and spectacular landscapes. We are really proud to own the north side of this spectacular gorge and we hope that you will enjoy exploring it in a way that suits you.
Whitecliff Bay is located in a comfortable and hospitable chalet park surrounded by countryside, on the sheltered east side of the Isle of Wight.
NWT Hickling Broad offers groups an expansive landscape with wide skies, open spaces and plenty of wild places to explore. Large groups can spread out by having sessions in different habitats around the site, including boat trips on the largest expanse of open water in the Broads system.
Prepare for a rare experience!
Cholderton Charlie’s Farm is a unique activity centre on the border of Wiltshire and Hampshire, and an absolute must for animal lovers.
Its Rare Breeds Farm and Education Centre makes it a fantastic place for young people to learn about endangered species and the environment.
NWT Cley Marshes, only 6km from Holt, provides groups with great opportunities to explore both coastal and wetland habitats. Include a visit to our award winning eco-friendly visitor centre. Your group can find out about its green sedum roof and innovative green technologies including wind turbine and rain water harvesting systems. The panoramic view across the Marshes is stunning.
Sarehole Mill is one of only two surviving working watermills in Birmingham. The existing building was constructed around 1750, although there was known to be a mill here as early as the Tudor period.
· Fun, interactive and exciting sessions designed to engage youngsters and to experience the natural environment in new ways.
· We have an outdoor classroom site next to Margrove Heritage Centre. It has a mixture of woodland, meadow and ponds with access along a secluded footpath.
Lulworth Castle, built in the early 17th Century as a hunting lodge, became a country house at the heart of a large estate. Thomas Howard, 3rd Lord Bindon, built the Castle in order to entertain hunting parties for the King and Court. The Howards owned it until 1641 when it was purchased by Humphrey Weld, the direct ancestor of the present owners.
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Latest News
Schoolboy Falls From 60ft Cliff on School Trip
A 15-year-old boy fell 60ft over the edge of a cliff whilst on a geography school trip, miraculously only suffering minor injuries.