On this page you’ll find feedback from groups that have used our services. They are posted here as written by the teacher, with immense gratitude. Many thanks.
We have now worked with Stephen for a number of years to allow students to complete their GCSE controlled assessment. His knowledge and expertise is excellent in the area and the students gain a great deal from completing their controlled assessment with him! Stephen’s advice and opportunity for students to meet with him and understand about the area from someone who knows it really well engages them far more. His efforts are much appreciated and this was reflected in our exam feedback from last year where they praised the level of fieldwork they completed.
Miss Pearson, Isambard Community School Swindon
I have been using Stephen’s services for my AS and A2 geography fieldwork for several years now. Stephen has excellent local knowledge of the Brecon Beacons and surrounding area and provides expert tuition on the Rivers, Glaciation and Ecosystems fieldwork that he does with my students. The Youth Hostel at Danywenallt provides a convenient and well appointed base for introductory tuition for the fieldwork and Stephen is always very well prepared with up to date materials which are e-mailed beforehand. He has a strong understanding of the Specification requirements and tailors the fieldwork accordingly. He actively seeks feedback and acts to improve the fieldwork experience for the students. Stephen builds purposeful relationships with the students throughout the day and encourages them to apply the data collection methods accurately and to think how the methods could be developed further. He is highly professional and always enthusiastic.
Lucy Motson, Gloucestershire College, Coleford
I have had the pleasure of working with Stephen for more than 5 years on GCSE and A Level fieldtrips in the Abergavenny area. He is always well researched and prepared for our students. Activities are tailored to our needs and he provides plenty of information and recording sheets, maps etc according to our requirements. He delivers an enthusiastic introduction and engages with all students in the fieldwork, helping and guiding them through each activity. I thoroughly recommend Stephen as a fieldwork tutor for geography.
Pat Waters, St. John’s College, Cardiff
Thank you Stephen for yet another well organised and smooth Geography residential trip for our year 12 students. The data they collected on the fieldwork days was excellent and will allow them to do a great deal of detailed analysis back in school before their exam. Also your linkage back to exam specification really helped develop their exam technique whilst out in the field.
Look forward to seeing you next year.
D Bibby, Ranelagh School, Bracknell
Once again Stephen’s contributions to the Worthing College A2 Geography residential field trip in November made a huge difference to student learning and the success of the trip. Always prepared to take on new challenges, this year he developed some exciting new materials on the Energy Security theme using HEP at Talybont Reservoir and a micro-generation scheme, involving students in practical investigations and direct experience of community involvement in developing sustainable energy security at a local level. Based around the theme of Consuming the Rural Landscape we also used the honeypot sites of Llangorse Lake and Pen y Fan for hands-on investigation of conflicting leisure activities and footpath erosion. As always, Stephen’s strengths included thorough preparation, innovative ideas, clear delivery and strong engagement with the students.
Antony Allchin, Worthing College
Thank you again to all contributors on this page.
Jane Wood, 4/9/21 “This was a hugely interesting and enjoyable CPD event at Craig Cerrig Gleisiad. Stephen brought the landscape to life by visualisation of the transformations over hundreds of thousands of years. Complex topic depicted in a very relatable way.”
Gabriel Yates, 17/2/23
What other events would you like us to provide? “Workshops about upland and mountain environment, flora and fauna are very useful for potential candidates looking towards their assessments so more of these types of courses please.
Please feel free to leave further comments… “Excellent course led by a very knowledgeable instructor. Friendly and informative.”
Ingrid Lohr, 17/2/23
What could we do better to improve the session? “Nothing!
What other events would you like us to provide? More of this!
Please feel free to leave further comments… Absolutely brilliant course! Stephen sure knows how to explain complex context in a way that is easily seen in nature. It was the second course I took on that topic with him and I wil be happy to book a third.”
Richard Batchelor, 17/2/23
What could we do better to improve the session? “Nothing – excellent
What other events would you like us to provide? Macro scale geology and its impact on the geomorphology of the Brecon Beacons. Glacial environment of Pic Du / Llyn-y -fan Fawr and Llyn y Fan Fach and surrounding ridges
Please feel free to leave further comments… This was the second course I have attended on this topic and like the first was outstanding. Firstly, the leadership of the group was fully inclusive and empathetic – everyone was valued and therefore felt free to make contributions to the discussions. The personal care of the individuals within the group was exemplary, no-one was felt to be outside their comfort zone, either physical on the short ‘hard’ climbs or, in relation to their prior knowledge of the course content. Quiet group management was highly affective and non intrusive. It was an excellent mountain day for this alone. Secondly, the course content, personal knowledge and delivery of the course director was highly impressive. The detailed knowledge of both glacial processes and the interaction of these processes within a complex landform environment meant that old personal knowledge was consolidated, new understanding developded all – within a leader led, discussion focussed approach that allowed, us the clients, seeing and developing hypotheses of what were the reasons for the glacial environment being explored.”
Ingrid Lohr
What could we do better to improve the session? “Nothing – was a brilliant day out and Stephen is really good at making the theory come to life in the hills.”
Richard Batchelor
What other events would you like us to provide? “Similar style one on the geology of the Brecon Beacons
Please feel free to leave further comments… Excellent workshop / course. The balance between learning / talking / exploration excellent. Highly knowledgeable leader with very good empathy with the range of attendees. Would recomend – enhanced personal knowledge and the ability to read the landscape with reference to its glacial history.”
Matthew Soanes
What could we do better to improve the session? “Thank you to Stephen for hosting this day. It was great to have a day out in the Beacons, and even better to combine this with something different – learning all about glaciation and the formation of the Beacons landscape. Stephen clearly has a real depth of knowledge in this area. Fantastic group of people to spend the day with too. I can’t really think of any improvements to suggest…
What other events would you like us to provide? Stephen has other sessions available on different topics in different areas, some of which I plan to attend.”
Field Studies in the Brecon Beacons 