This week, students from Year 8 and 9 stepped outside the classroom for their Geography Fieldwork enquiries, collecting primary data in the field. Luckily, the weather was on our side (a rare occurrence, as we usually fall victim to the Geographer’s Curse!) and students thoroughly enjoyed putting their fieldwork skills into practice. 

Year 8 focused on calculating the amount of carbon stored in the trees around our school grounds, investigating whether these trees help offset the carbon emissions produced by the school. Meanwhile, Year 9 conducted traffic surveys along Grindon Lane to determine if traffic is the main contributor to local pollution. 

Additionally, Year 8 Wonder Challenge students visited Kier Construction sites in the city centre, getting an exclusive look at the new Culture House and Eye Infirmary buildings. These two major investments are transforming our city, and the students were among the first to see the plans and progress so far. The team at Kier Construction provided invaluable insights into the opportunities these multi-million-pound developments will bring, as well as discussing careers in construction and the future of modern building techniques. 

All students had an incredible experience, and we would like to extend our sincere thanks to Kier Construction for hosting such an informative and engaging day. As a Sunderland local, it was a personal privilege to visit these impressive buildings, and I’m excited to see the future opportunities they will offer to our students within our city.