Three students carrying clipboards and worksheets during an outdoor fieldwork activity a Salford Quays.

On The Waterfront: Geographers Investigate Salford Quays

This June, the stylish Salford Quays was the destination for Lower Sixth Geographers to perfect their fieldwork skills.
To prepare for their A-level coursework, students investigated the Quays to understand its utter transformation since the Manchester Docks closed in the 1980s, leaving a contaminated wasteland.
Students carried out environmental assessments and land-use surveys of the area, including Media City, The Imperial War Museum, and the area around the Water Sports Centre.  They also interviewed residents, visitors and local workers to collect their views on the massive regeneration scheme. After the data was in, the students analysed the numbers in a classroom at the Lowry Theatre Arts venue.
Head of Geography, Mr Grundy, said the trip was important preparation for students to produce their own individual investigation, which is worth 20% of the A-level. Overall, geographers complete 4 days of fieldwork as part of the A-level course.