Thinking of joining PGL as a Field Studies Instructor?
Here you'll find some of the most commonly asked questions we receive from people interested in our exciting Field Studies Instructor opportunities.
This depends on the number of bookings we get in, and different centres get different numbers of bookings, and they are not the same every year. We do not have Field Studies groups at centres during school holidays, when you will be working with families or individual children on holiday and during the term some periods are busier than others. You will also need to be prepared for younger Field Studies groups, especially at Key Stage 2, doing a lot of activity sessions during their stay, in between their Field Studies. This is why our initial Field Studies Instructor training period is designed to cover all the basics of activity instructing and instructing in general; you will become more specialised on arrival at your destination centre. Rest assured that we want you to do the maximum amount of Field Studies possible!
What will I need to know?
With very few exceptions, our Field Studies Instructors possess a ‘relevant’ degree. This means that you have a good level of knowledge in at least one of our major topic areas. It probably means that you have covered several other areas at secondary school/GCSE and A-Level. On your Field Studies training course, we will cover all the academic knowledge that you need and provide background reading and notes for you, so that you can spend time reading about any topic we cover. It is also important to remember that our sessions are based in a particular location. For example, this means that we do not need you to be a brilliant Marine Biologist (although you might be!), but we will need you to learn about the local beach we use to do our rock pool sessions, regardless of your degree subject. You are most welcome to bring with you any notes or favourite books you think might be useful, but we will provide everything you need. In addition to the content of the sessions, you will also learn a lot of really useful information and skills, such as off-site safety, delivery skills (how to talk to groups), some IT skills and loads of games and activities to help you get the information across to children.
What topics does Field Studies cover at PGL?
You can get a good idea of the topics we cover by looking at the products by clicking here or reading a PGL Field Studies brochure. Essentially, we have sessions on geology, human geography, physical geography, history, biology, ecology and environmental science. We deliberately have sessions that cover areas that are difficult to teach in the classroom at school and topics that are helped by seeing real life examples. Many of the sessions stretch across these areas.
What is the Field Studies Instructor training course like?
The groups that visit PGL can choose a mix of Field Studies and activity sessions during their stay, and therefore the Field Studies Instructor training course covers a lot of information and activity delivery sessions as well as lots of additional information and useful transferable skills. It is quite an intense course, but really interesting and enjoyable. Leading activity sessions as well as Field Studies sessions is lots of fun and gives you the chance to get to know your group better during their stay.
Will I have to take an exam?
There are two main assessments on the Field Studies Instructor training course, but don’t worry; it’s not as horrible as it sounds! All of the training courses for staff at PGL are designed to help find your strengths rather than your weaknesses and your trainers will be there to help support you in any areas you're not so confident in. There will be a practical assessment, during which you will instruct a short section of a session we have trained you in, using the other new instructors on your course to play the roles of children. There will also be a written exam paper with a few questions on each session you have been trained in, and some general questions. This written exam will include a short section that has to be completed on a computer, just to test your IT skills, which again, we will have taught you.
The important thing to remember is that we will obviously be watching you throughout the course and that we want you to do well, so we will be doing everything we can to make sure you are ready and happy to instruct Field Studies. The formal assessments are designed to provide proof that you are ready, but by the time you get to the end of the course, both you and your trainers should already be confident!
What age group will I be working with?
This depends on the bookings at each centre, but the great majority of groups are at Key Stage 2; that’s children aged between eight and ten generally. We also get a number of A-Level groups (16-18), and this is where we will need your specialist knowledge more. For example, if the group are doing their A-Level in Geology, we need as many Instructors working with them who have Geology degrees as possible. We will deliberately select you for each school that you work with; wherever possible we will even try to match your personality and enjoyment of individual topics with each group to give you the best possible experience, which will in turn give the group the best possible experience
What are the Field Studies centres like?
We operate Field Studies courses primarily at Osmington Bay in Dorset, South Devon's Barton Hall, Little Canada on the Isle of Wight and at Loch Ranza on the Isle of Arran on Scotland's West Coast.
Obviously, each centre is different! However, as your initial training will be taking place at one of PGL's larger centres, and Field Studies courses are offered at the bigger centres, you will probably get a good idea just by looking at the centre you stay at during your training course. All the basic systems and set-ups are similar at PGL's larger centres; key things like staff accommodation being shared, the big dining rooms, and management structure are similar or the same at all these centres. The Field Studies sessions and adventure activities available are also similar.
The main differences are definitely the location of the centre, in relation to the coast or to local towns and therefore facilities. The location will also affect the Field Studies sessions available. The other main differences are in the physical appearance of the centre itself, the grounds and the buildings. They do vary quite a bit, but everyone ends up thinking that the centre they work at is the best!
How much Field Studies is on-site at the centre and how much is 'off centre'?
This is slightly driven by the surrounding landscape and the actual location of the centre. At some centres, there is a beach within walking distance, at others there's not. Likewise, some have villages or towns that can be walked to while some need a coach journey. Some centres have wooded or meadow areas within the grounds that can be used as study sites, but some do not, so those sessions take place 'off centre.' At Key stage 2, many schools prefer to do sessions that are on centre, because this means they can avoid the extra costs of coach trips and paying to get into any museums or attractions. Whatever the case, working as a Field Studies Instructor guarantees you trips 'off centre' at some point!
Do I need to bring any particular kit with me?
All of your uniform is provided, as is equipment for sessions. Every centre runs a river study of some sort, so a pair of wellington boots can be handy. A good pair of sturdy shoes or walking boots will be useful. A notebook and pens will come in handy for taking notes during your training course as there can be a lot of information to take in! If you have any particular favourite books in your specialist area these might be useful to have (i.e plant guides etc), but most centres have a variety of reference books or guides for use on sessions. A small backpack is useful to take with you during your 'off centre' sessions to carry anything your lunch, drink, waterproofs, hat, gloves and, very importantly, money for ice-cream!