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.
Located on the picturesque Isle of Cumbrae in the Firth of Clyde, Field Studies Council Millport is an activity centre in Scotland, originally a marine research station, Purpose-built teaching spaces and comfortable accommodation make it an ideal base for outdoor education and fieldwork. Millport is Just an hour from Glasgow, on the Isle of Cumbrae is easily accessible via regular ferry, road, rail, and air links.
Small Group or Individual Student Days are designed to bring together individual students, home educated students, schools with small cohorts, or students who were unable to attend a residential or alternative trip. By bringing groups together you do not have to pay for a minimum number of students.
These courses are for groups of 9 or fewer students from any one school.
To ensure the safety of all participants on our day and residential small groups courses, any child, or group of children from an individual school or home-education group, aged under 18 years must be accompanied by a responsible adult, eg teacher or parent. Other adult learners eg mature students or those who have recently turned 18 are welcome to join the course.
The price of the course includes:
Accompanying staff and adults are charged at half the student rate plus VAT.
Accommodation in shared rooms (single rooms for adults where available but cannot be guaranteed
Food from dinner on day 1 to packed lunch on day 3
In-course transport to fieldwork sites during the course
All course teaching
Equipment, wellies and waterproofs if required
Example Timetable
Day 1
Afternoon
Introduction to AH Projects
After a short icebreaker session to introduce students, we will consider the structure of the advanced higher projects with respect to the mark scheme. We will then plan and carry out an example lab or field investigation to understand terms such as sample size, control variables, repeats and replicates. We will have a brief introduction to the rocky shore ecosystem, to understand which environmental gradients vary in this dynamic environment, and how this affects the organisms that live there.
Evening
Pilot study planning workshop.
Students spend the evening session planning their pilot studies, coming up with methods, equipment lists and data tables.
Day 2
Morning
Pilot projects
Students complete their pilot studies, and amend their methodologies in preparation for their main studies, making a note of at least 1 amendment.
Afternoon
Main project planning
Students will plan their method for the main project data collection, justifying their use of methods and equipment based on their pilot study. They will write out their data collection tables, collect equipment, and practise data analysis on dummy data so they have an idea of how to interpret the data they will collect. They will also come up with hypotheses, and describe the aim of the investigation.
Evening
Understanding terminology
Ahead of their main data collection, students will have the opportunity to take part in a workshop to understand the terminology used in the mark scheme. We will cover terminology such as sample sizes, repeats vs replicates, controlling variables. Students will also learn how to calculate sample sizes using the running mean, where appropriate.
Day 3
Morning and afternoon
Main Data collection replicate 1
Students collect data for their first replicate
Evening
Data analysis: choosing an appropriate graph
By the evening students will have some data to work with. We will go through how to present data on graphs, including how to select the correct graph for the data. Where possible, we will identify and interpret trends to understand what the data shows, and how this fits in with our hypotheses
Day 4
Morning and afternoon
Main Data collection replicate 2
Students collect data for their second replicate, repeating their methods in a new area or with new organisms.
Evening
Data analysis: statistical testing (averages, error bars, standard deviation)
Students learn how to complete statistical testing on their data, such as averages (when to use the mean median or mode) and standard deviation where appropriate.
There can also be an option for a ‘fun’ session to celebrate all their hard work, either a campfire with marshmellow toasting or an orienteering competition.
Day 5
Morning
On the last morning students can collect any final data they need for their projects, finish drawing conclusions or analysing their data. We will tidy up and release organisms, before a short recap on rocky shore environmental gradients, and how their projects fit into wider topics such as climate change or habitat conservation.
Depart. 12pm
What's Included
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Expert Tuition -
Free Wi-Fi -
Full Board Accommodation -
Hot and Cold Drinks -
In Course Transport -
Picnic Lunch
Opportunities to attend this course
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Sun 01, November 2026 12:00 - Thu 05, November 2026 12:00
