Post-16 (KS5)
Visit us in the park, or link up from your classroom
Whether you want to bring your group to the park or take part from the classroom, we can give your students an experience that will inspire them with the nature and heritage of these famous green spaces.
To discuss your requirements with our experienced education team, just fill in our enquiry form and we'll be in touch.
Use the following links to our partners for visits to Greenwich Park, The Regent's Park, Bushy Park or Richmond Park:
In the parks
The Hyde Park Learning Centre provides the perfect base for A-level, BTEC and International Baccalaureate fieldwork. Students have access to field equipment, a range of park habitats and expert educators on hand to guide their data collection. It’s an ideal opportunity to discover and be inspired by the natural world, set in the heart of the city. Sessions are priced at £120+VAT (half day) or £220+VAT (full day) for a class of up to 30 students.
Our NEA Fieldwork Skills courses are specifically designed to help prepare students for their Non-Examined Assessment and count towards compulsory fieldwork requirements. Pupils will be guided through the enquiry process, learn about and justify sampling strategies and consider good scientific process while using a range of qualitative and quantitative fieldwork techniques to complete a sample investigation in Hyde Park. Each of our fieldwork days follow a different sampling strategy and topic so combining days is also a fantastic way to lay the foundations for your students to form their own investigations right here in the heart of London.
Please note that these courses are designed to equip your students with the skills required for their NEA; the data collected will not be suitable for use as primary data in their NEA.
Full day sessions are 4 hours long, and half day sessions are 2 hours long.
Place
In this session students will use a range of qualitative and quantitative fieldwork techniques to measure Place characteristics within Hyde Park. Students will discuss limitations to the fieldwork, learn about and justify sampling strategies, and select the fieldwork techniques most relevant to their group's question.
The investigation will consider historical influences on sense of place alongside using systematic sampling to measure emotional, environmental and social factors from the perimeters of Hyde Park towards the centre. The students will use iPads to plot results directly onto ArcGIS and conclude the research by creating a place profile of Hyde Park.
| Suitable for: KS5 | Duration: Half day |
Carbon
In this session we consider the impact of Hyde Park on atmospheric carbon dioxide through estimating the trees’ carbon sequestration. Students write risk assessments, discuss limitations, learn about and justify sampling strategies, and collect qualitative data through field-sketches and conflict-benefit matrices. The investigation will use stratified sampling with random sampling within each strata to take repeat quantitative data measurements of the dominant tree species. The students will use trigonometry to calculate the average tree volume, read the tree biomass from secondary data graphs and infer average carbon content.
| Suitable for: KS5 | Duration: Half day |
Carbon
The full day session extends the investigation to enable students to propose a new Hyde Park tree management plan. They will have the chance to form their own group research questions using the techniques they learnt in the morning and the following discussions, enabling them to test a hypothesis about the best way of managing Hyde Park to reduce atmospheric CO2. Each group will write their own hypotheses and method before heading out to complete data collection. Students will use iPads to plot their results directly onto ArcGIS and present their proposed management plans to the group at the end of the day. Students will also go away with data suitable for statistical analysis.
| Suitable for: KS5 | Duration: Full day |
Water
Should we plant more meadows and trees? Should we still be holding big concerts in the park? Should we scrap the park altogether and build skyscrapers? Students will consider the effects of topography, geology, and land-use on the water cycle, measure infiltration rates, and use what they learn to debate the future of Hyde Park. They’ll write risk assessments, discuss limitations, learn about and justify sampling strategies, and collect qualitative data through field sketches. The investigation will use random sampling and take repeat measurements of infiltration and abiotic factors at various sites around Hyde Park. The students will calculate averages and rates, and go away with data suitable for statistical analysis.
| Suitable for: KS5 | Duration: Half day |
Water
The full day session extends the investigation to consider the water management scheme we have here at Hyde Park, adding other aspects of the water cycle and social factors into the initial equation. The students will have the chance to form their own group research questions using the techniques they learnt in the morning and the following discussions, enabling them to test a hypothesis about the best way forward for Hyde Park. Each group will write hypotheses, methods and risk assessments before heading out to complete data collection, using iPads to plot their results directly onto ArcGIS.
| Suitable for: KS5 | Duration: Full day |
We offer carefully developed modules mapped to the specifications of each major exam board, and can tailor these according to the sampling techniques that your students need to practice. You can book either a half or full-day depending on your needs.
Students will plan and complete a scientific investigation using qualitative and quantitative sampling techniques and record their observations and results. They will learn to use a range of equipment to take biotic and abiotic measurements and be encouraged to reflect on their fieldwork, identifying limitations and scope for future improvements. Depending on the module and preferences of the group risk assessments, field sketches or scientific drawings may be made and written procedures followed. Modules can be chosen to cover random, systematic or stratified sampling, and use habitats including meadow, amenity grassland, freshwater and trees (lichen studies). One module can be completed per half day session.
Exam board practicals
The following exam board specified practicals may be completed:
- OCR – Practical Activity Group 3 - 3.1, 3.2, 3.3
- AQA Core Practical Activity 12
- Edexcel A Core Practical 10
- Edexcel B Core Practical 16
Please discuss the needs of your group with us and we can arrange a session to suit your students. If you are looking for something not listed above please get in touch – we may well be able to cater for your needs.
This session is available between March and November, when the parks' environments provide the best opportunities for meaningful study.
Our three-day investigations course is suitable for students studying environmental systems and societies and/or biology. It gives them a comprehensive grounding in sampling techniques, which enables them to design their own individual investigation that they carry out during the course. This investigation is suitable for students to write up for internal assessment.
Students use qualitative and quantitative techniques to complete random, systematic and stratified sampling. They learn to plan and execute their own investigations, select and evaluate methods and equipment, and complete risk assessments. A variety of habitats including freshwater and meadows are used to survey plants and animals. There may also be opportunities to complete Lincoln indexes, Simpson’s index of diversity and pyramids of biomass. Please get in touch with us so we can discuss the needs of your group.
Speak Out at Speakers' Corner
Inspire your students with the history of Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park, and the principle of free speech that is a cornerstone of life in the UK. In this outdoor workshop, students will discover the history of this infamous place, practice their debating, and improve their oratory skills.
They’ll learn about opinion forming while visiting the site of the Reformers’ Tree; practice techniques to make their point heard in the busy park environment; and put their persuasive powers to the test on location in our Speakers’ Corner Speak-Off.
This session is linked to the English curriculum for KS3 and KS4; and English Language and Sociology for KS5.
| Suitable for: KS3, KS4 or KS5 | Duration: Half day |
Our fieldwork practical activities will enhance your students learning, giving them the opportunity to see first hand the different methods used to understand, survey and plan management of the Royal Parks.
The investigations will focus on freshwater habitats, grasslands, tree populations, air pollution (via lichen studies), and observing visitor interactions and their impact on the park environment.
Sessions follow the Pearson BTEC Applied Sciences curricula at Levels 1, 2 and 3.
Full day sessions are 4 hours long, and half day sessions are 2 hours long.
Level 3 Unit 3: Science Investigation Skills - Plants and Their Environment
Students will develop skills to plan and conduct a field study, investigating factors affecting plants and their environment. They will use various equipment to take biotic and abiotic measurements, reflecting on their fieldwork to identify limitations and areas for improvement. The session includes a random and systematic study of a meadow habitat, considering the impact of human interaction on the parks and how these insights can inform future management decisions by The Royal Parks.
This session will be run between March and November only.
| Suitable for: KS5 | Duration: Full day |
Plan your visit
Have you chosen which sessions you’d like to join? You can take a look at our practical information (including details on prices and bursaries) or go ahead with planning your visit by filling out the online enquiry form.
If you have any questions, you can also call us on 0300 061 2286 or email learn@royalparks.org.uk.