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Field Studies Council - Margam Discovery Centre


Leading Provider of Geography and Science (Biology) Fieldwork

Description

The Field Studies Council is a charity that aims to bring environmental understanding to all. We believe the more we know about and take inspiration from the world around us the more we can appreciate its needs and protect its diversity and beauty for future generations.

One of the many ways we do this is by providing well-designed, expertly delivered educational experiences for school groups, set in some of the UK's most stunning locations. Each year over 3,000 school groups, from key stage 1 to university level, visit our centres for geography or science (biology) fieldwork and cross-curricular environmental activity courses.

Set in 850 acres of beautiful parkland where 600 deer roam freely, Margam Discovery Centre offers high quality environmental education to all age groups, both residentially and for day visits. The centre is a state of the art low carbon footprint building designed by The Welsh School of Architects. The park boasts an Iron Age hill fort, 12 Century Cistercian Abbey remains, Margam Abbey Church, a Celtic Stones Museum and a beautiful 18th Century Orangery. All offer opportunities for historical investigations. Spanning both a coastal plain and upland area there are a wide range of opportunities for geographical and scientific study. The Centre is run in partnership with Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council.

Please click on our website to find out more about the courses we can deliver.


Reviews

The following reviews have been added by visit leaders using the EVOLVE system.
Overview
4.5
27 reviews


Excellent
 
52%

Very Good
 
48%

Average
 
0%

Poor
 
0%

Awful
 
0%

(November 2024 - Secondary School)




(October 2024 - Secondary School)




(October 2024 - Secondary School)




(September 2024 - Primary School)




(September 2024 - Primary School)




(June 2024 - Secondary School)




(June 2024 - Secondary School)




(June 2024 - Secondary School)




(March 2024 - Primary School)




(February 2024 - Secondary School)




(December 2023 - Secondary School)




(November 2023 - Primary School)




Food was poor but accommodation was excellent (July 2023 - Secondary School)




Whilst the venue was not in the most scenic of locations, the centre itself and its vicinity to the beach and surrounding grassland and woodland made it a perfect site for the biology field trip. We would definitely like to return there in future. The setting for the centre in a large park does also eliminate the worry of student’s wandering off and was an excellent venue for moring runs which some students enjoyed with Mr Lawrence. Rooms were modern, clean and very secure, with key cards to open doors and key code locks to get into the building. Evening supervision was straightforward as staff rooms were on the same corridor as student rooms and we were all within the same building. Beds were bunks, though comfortable, and each room had an ensuite bathroom. Rooming was a bit tighter than last year, and male staff did end up sharing a room but this was not an issue. We would still prefer individual rooming in future. FSC provided all of the equipment needed, which saved a huge amount of time at LGS, where we have previously had to make up equipment boxes and carry trolley-fulls of keys, clipboards, ranging poles, quadrats and tape measures from the store room to the coach (and back again). It was a real delight to not have to do this. In addition, Margam had waterproof tablets that were used in the field to record data. These were fantastic and data could be quickly collated on the computer once we returned to the centre, freeing up more time for analysis and enabling centre staff to cater flexibly to our needs. The only real down-side to Margam was the lack of communal space. There are small common rooms available, but these are only really suitable for around 20 people. We were fortunate, as the weather was so pleasant students could go outside. We were allocated the (slightly) bigger common room and students used this responsibly but this could be an issue if weather turned for the worse. (May 2023 - Secondary School)




(February 2023 - Secondary School)




It was in Slapton in the end not Margam (September 2019 - Secondary School)




Great purpose built field studies centre. Staff are really helpful and knowledgeable and the facilities are perfect. (May 2019 - Secondary School)




(January 2019 - Secondary School)




Well organised and the fieldwork met the exam specification requirements (December 2018 - Secondary School)




(September 2018 - Secondary School)




excellent venue - staff were well trained and approachable (July 2018 - Secondary School)




(June 2018 - Secondary School)




(May 2018 - Secondary School)




Superb provider (May 2018 - Secondary School)




excellent facilities and tutors but canteen need to reconsider food options for teenagers. We were there for vegetarian night and the majority of my group went without food (I know their own faults for not eating aubergines or peppers but that's teenagers these days!) Other than that can't fault it - clean and professionally run. Covered all outcomes needed by us in the time they had. (April 2018 - Secondary School)




The centre is great. Clearly explained the routines whilst there. (February 2018 - Secondary School)




Very good, work intensive, and met all my requirements for Sixth Form Geography Fieldwork. (December 2017 - Secondary School)




Leading Provider of Geography and Science (Biology) Fieldwork

Description

The Field Studies Council is a charity that aims to bring environmental understanding to all. We believe the more we know about and take inspiration from the world around us the more we can appreciate its needs and protect its diversity and beauty for future generations.

One of the many ways we do this is by providing well-designed, expertly delivered educational experiences for school groups, set in some of the UK's most stunning locations. Each year over 3,000 school groups, from key stage 1 to university level, visit our centres for geography or science (biology) fieldwork and cross-curricular environmental activity courses.

Set in 850 acres of beautiful parkland where 600 deer roam freely, Margam Discovery Centre offers high quality environmental education to all age groups, both residentially and for day visits. The centre is a state of the art low carbon footprint building designed by The Welsh School of Architects. The park boasts an Iron Age hill fort, 12 Century Cistercian Abbey remains, Margam Abbey Church, a Celtic Stones Museum and a beautiful 18th Century Orangery. All offer opportunities for historical investigations. Spanning both a coastal plain and upland area there are a wide range of opportunities for geographical and scientific study. The Centre is run in partnership with Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council.

Please click on our website to find out more about the courses we can deliver.

Contact

Field Studies Council - Margam Discovery Centre
Margam Park
Port Talbot
Neath Port Talbot
SA13 2UA
LOtC

Reviews

The following reviews have been added by visit leaders using the EVOLVE system.
Overview
4.5
27 reviews


Excellent
 
52%

Very Good
 
48%

Average
 
0%

Poor
 
0%

Awful
 
0%

November 2024 - Secondary School




October 2024 - Secondary School




October 2024 - Secondary School




September 2024 - Primary School




September 2024 - Primary School




June 2024 - Secondary School




June 2024 - Secondary School




June 2024 - Secondary School




March 2024 - Primary School




February 2024 - Secondary School




December 2023 - Secondary School




November 2023 - Primary School




July 2023 - Secondary School
Food was poor but accommodation was excellent



May 2023 - Secondary School
Whilst the venue was not in the most scenic of locations, the centre itself and its vicinity to the beach and surrounding grassland and woodland made it a perfect site for the biology field trip. We would definitely like to return there in future. The setting for the centre in a large park does also eliminate the worry of student’s wandering off and was an excellent venue for moring runs which some students enjoyed with Mr Lawrence. Rooms were modern, clean and very secure, with key cards to open doors and key code locks to get into the building. Evening supervision was straightforward as staff rooms were on the same corridor as student rooms and we were all within the same building. Beds were bunks, though comfortable, and each room had an ensuite bathroom. Rooming was a bit tighter than last year, and male staff did end up sharing a room but this was not an issue. We would still prefer individual rooming in future. FSC provided all of the equipment needed, which saved a huge amount of time at LGS, where we have previously had to make up equipment boxes and carry trolley-fulls of keys, clipboards, ranging poles, quadrats and tape measures from the store room to the coach (and back again). It was a real delight to not have to do this. In addition, Margam had waterproof tablets that were used in the field to record data. These were fantastic and data could be quickly collated on the computer once we returned to the centre, freeing up more time for analysis and enabling centre staff to cater flexibly to our needs. The only real down-side to Margam was the lack of communal space. There are small common rooms available, but these are only really suitable for around 20 people. We were fortunate, as the weather was so pleasant students could go outside. We were allocated the (slightly) bigger common room and students used this responsibly but this could be an issue if weather turned for the worse.



February 2023 - Secondary School




September 2019 - Secondary School
It was in Slapton in the end not Margam



May 2019 - Secondary School
Great purpose built field studies centre. Staff are really helpful and knowledgeable and the facilities are perfect.



January 2019 - Secondary School




December 2018 - Secondary School
Well organised and the fieldwork met the exam specification requirements



September 2018 - Secondary School




July 2018 - Secondary School
excellent venue - staff were well trained and approachable



June 2018 - Secondary School




May 2018 - Secondary School




May 2018 - Secondary School
Superb provider



April 2018 - Secondary School
excellent facilities and tutors but canteen need to reconsider food options for teenagers. We were there for vegetarian night and the majority of my group went without food (I know their own faults for not eating aubergines or peppers but that's teenagers these days!) Other than that can't fault it - clean and professionally run. Covered all outcomes needed by us in the time they had.



February 2018 - Secondary School
The centre is great. Clearly explained the routines whilst there.



December 2017 - Secondary School
Very good, work intensive, and met all my requirements for Sixth Form Geography Fieldwork.