The focus of the trip was river ecology, with pupils carrying out river measurements and sampling in the River Pang.

The session was led by Donna, a volunteer with the Riverfly Partnership, who supports the River Monitoring Initiative (RMI). This nationwide scheme involves monthly sampling of rivers to monitor the presence of invertebrate species such as Caddisfly, Mayfly and Olives. These riverflies act as biological indicators: a decline in their numbers signals a deterioration in water quality, often due to pollution.

Our students had the opportunity to observe these species first-hand, learning how their presence reflects the health of the river ecosystem. They also gained a deeper understanding of how citizen science projects like RMI play a crucial role in protecting and conserving Britain’s rivers.

The fieldwork not only contributed towards their practical endorsement but also gave our Year 13s valuable insight into real-world ecological monitoring — and the chance to connect classroom learning with meaningful, hands-on science.

For more about the Riverfly Partnership and its work, visit: www.riverflies.org.