"The 2022 Commonwealth Games is the biggest sporting event in the citys history and the associated redevelopment at Perry Barr provides an exciting real-time urban case study for geography GCSE and A-"
Simon Ward
The Field Studies Council (FSC) has written to 650 schools across the city encouraging them to embrace the opportunity to study the changing landscape of Birmingham’s Perry Barr region ahead of the games starting in two years time.
It follows the success of a similar programme of urban geography courses which it launched in London in connection with the London 2012 Olympics.
FSC Head of Group Simon Ward, who is overseeing delivery of the new course, said the current Commonwealth Games regeneration, in particular the ongoing creation of the £520m Athletes Village at Perry Barr presented endless scope for fieldwork.
“The 2022 Commonwealth Games is the biggest sporting event in the city’s history and the associated redevelopment at Perry Barr provides an exciting real-time urban case study for geography GCSE and A-Level students,” he said.
“The course which we have designed encourages students to get outside and experience the changing landscape first hand, much in the same way as we did in London in relation to the 2012 Olympics.
“It requires them to investigate and understand the challenges and opportunities being addressed by the regeneration and it gives them the opportunity to carry out practical fieldwork in the form of environmental quality assessments, service tallies and field sketches.”
It is one of a number of courses which have been designed by expert tutors at FSC Birmingham to support schools and colleges with urban fieldwork.
“Birmingham is such a vibrant, cultural and progressive city and it has undergone a far amount of change in recent years,” added Simon.
“From a geographical perspective it is an absolute gem to study and we have developed numerous urban courses which aim to enrich learning outside the classroom and equip students with the skills they need to undertake meaningful human geography investigations.”
FSC has been a leading provider of outdoor education for 75 years and its Birmingham-based tutors are already working with hundreds of schools to maximise opportunities for learning outdoors.
Last year the charity’s network of field study centres across the UK welcomed 165,000 learners – it’s busiest ever year.
Courses based around the development of London for the 2012 Olympics were hailed a huge success by teachers and students, opening up new and exciting opportunities for learning in the built environment.
For more information on the new Birmingham courses visit https://www.field-studies-council.org/locations/fsc-birmingham/.
