A 4-day A Level Biology course offers an unrivalled opportunity for students to undertake a range of ecological investigations in a variety of inspiring habitats and complete relevant practical activities.
Students will develop their practical skills, use of apparatus and techniques, and deepen their understanding of ecological syllabus content and synoptic links through first-hand experience.
A wide range of mathematical skills are embedded into every course, including a variety of graphical forms, calculations such as Simpson’s index of diversity, standard deviation, uncertainties and percentage error, and the appropriate use of statistical tests.
This course provides an opportunity for schools with low student numbers to tackle different fieldwork enquiries across a range of fieldsites.
The course will also allow students to apply investigative approaches and methods, safely use a range of practical equipment, make and record observations and gain an understanding of the roles and limitations of equipment and techniques.
Slapton Ley Field Centre is located on the Start Bay coast in South Devon and is surrounded by Slapton Ley National Nature Reserve. The Ley is the largest natural freshwater lake in the South West and is separated from the sea by Slapton Sands, a barrier beach. The 214 hectare reserve has been managed by Slapton Ley for over 50 years as an “outdoor laboratory” for education and conservation, and boasts a rich mosaic of habitats including ancient and coppiced woodland, freshwater lake and stream, shingle ridge and rocky shore. The centre offers visitors of all ages the opportunity to experience a unique outdoor learning environment in combination with specialist teaching and facilities.
These courses are for groups of 9 or less students from any one school. Students must be accompanied by a responsible adult (usually a teacher from a school, but could be a parent/carer for an individual student).
The course price includes in-course transport, whilst at the centre, and is exempt from VAT.
Please bring your own packed lunch for the first day. All other meals are included up to a packed lunch on the last day.
Example Timetable
Example Timetable
Day 1
Arrive Midday
Welcome by FSC staff, centre tour and introduction, pre-course meeting of FSC staff and teachers, allocation of wellies and waterproofs as appropriate.
Afternoon and evening - Biodiversity (including OCR PAG 3.1)
Students will use random sampling to compare two habitats, calculate species diversity and investigate variation within a species using Student’s t-test. This could be done in various habitats, including rocky shore, woodland, heathland, or moorland depending on the centre visited.
Day 2
Succession (including OCR PAG 3.2)
A full day session investigating succession using systematic sampling. Students will measure abundance and distribution of species and analyse the data using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient.
Day 3
Morning and early afternoon - Ecological Energetics
A half day session looking at energy flow and the efficiency of energy transfer within an ecosystem, either in freshwater or on the rocky shore, depending on the centre. Students will sample organism abundance to compare trophic structure in two contrasting habitats, using the chi-squared test of independence to analyse the data as well as calculating the efficiency of energy transfer between different levels.
Late afternoon and evening – Investigative Skills (AQA RP 12, OCR PAG 3.3. and PAG 12, Edexcel CP 10)
Students will hone the skills they have learnt throughout the course to plan, justify and carry out their own ecological investigation. In this session they will identify variables and make informed hypotheses, then plan their methods of data collection.
Day 4
Investigative Skills continued
Students will spend the morning working in small groups to collect their data and begin to process this. They can then complete their write ups back at school, analysing their data, and conducting research to add context to their findings.
Depart Midday
What's Included
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Expert Tuition -
Free Wi-Fi -
Full Board Accommodation -
In Course Transport -
Picnic Lunch
Opportunities to attend this course
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Mon 22, September 2025 14:00 - Thu 25, September 2025 12:30
Specification Links
AQA: 4.4 Genetic diversity and adaptation; 4.5 Species and taxonomy; 4.6 Biodiversity within a community; 5.1 Photosynthesis; 5.3 Energy and Ecosystems; 5.4 Nutrient cycles; 6.1.1. Survival and response; 7.4 Populations in ecosystems
Required Practical 12
Edexcel A 4.1 – 4.3 Biodiversity and natural resources; 5.1 – 5.4, 5.10 – 5.11 On the wild side
Core Practical 10
OCR A 4.2.1 Biodiversity; 4.2.2 Classification and evolution; 5.2.1 Photosynthesis; 6.3.1 Ecosystems; 6.3.2 Populations and sustainability
PAG 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and PAG 12