GCSE Geography - Hengistbury Head

More than 100 GCSE Geography students visited Hengistbury Head in Dorset on Monday 23rd June, 2025. This spectacular coastal landmark is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The aim of the day was for students to collect data for their GCSE Geography Paper 3, where students will answer questions based on their fieldwork experiences.

The first study site was the Hengistbury Head Long Groyne, a coastal defence originally built in 1939. Students were able to see the results of a huge project in 2024 to upgrade the groyne with over 30,000 tonnes of extra rocks sourced from France and Norway. This scheme has recently featured in the BBC’s Countryfile TV show.

Moving on, students then investigated the tourism phenomenon at nearby Mudeford Spit. Here, more than 350 beach huts have been built, many with a fabulous view to the famous Needles chalk stacks in the Isle of Wight.

The students thoroughly enjoyed the day and got a lot from seeing sites they have studied in the classroom in real life, bringing Geography to life. Thank you very much to the Geography Department for running the two days of trips for the students.