Catch My Drift!

Posted: 18th October 2019

Upper V research Geography

Mr Chappory, Head of Geography, reports on the most recent field visit for the GCSE Geographers:

‘On Friday 11th October, the Geography Department took the 35 Upper V GCSE Geographers to Seaford in East Sussex, in order to study the way that longshore drift and erosion on that coastline is managed. The contrasting site on that coastline, was meant to be Beachy Head (further East) where there is no coastal management and longshore drift and erosion continues unchecked.

    

However, the light rain and moderate winds forecasted at Seaford felt like heavy rain and strong winds once we arrived. In addition, the waves were very high and working conditions were difficult. However, at Seaford we soldiered on and completed a beach profile, sediment samples and took many photographs.

    

Beachy Head was, however, an entirely different proposition, as it can only be accessed via a 30 minute walk along the cut-off meanders of Cuckmere Haven and, although beautiful, perhaps would have gone unappreciated in the sideways rain. At that point the Geography Department had to think quick and the wealth of our fieldwork experience came to our aid.

    

We quickly changed the focus of the study from comparing a managed coastal area and an unmanaged coastal area, to comparing different levels of management at three different locations. Seaford, managed by a terminal groyne and beach replenishment; Rottingdean, managed by high re-curved sea walls and groynes made of rip-rap; Brighton Beach, managed by traditional groynes.

In our opinion, we turned a good field trip into an even better one. The only problem is that we worked in a westward direction which was against Longshore Drift. However, as relatively intelligent human beings, all we have to do in class is write it up in reverse order and it will be great.

Lesson to be learned…. Do the coastal work in the June of Lower V and the urban regeneration work in October! Catch my drift!’

    

Categories: Senior
Strengthening Our Community: The Return of Boys to our Preps and Pre-Preps

We are excited to share that, from September 2026, boys will begin moving up from our Nursery into Reception, marking the gradual reintroduction of boys into our Prep and Pre-Prep School.

This step reflects growing interest from families who value our strong holistic ethos and unique grounds and setting and would like their sons and daughters to share their educational journey together.

At St Augustine’s, our strong sense of community, academic excellence, and deep care for each individual child remain at the heart of everything we do. This is a natural evolution of our school rather than a change to who we are, building on our strengths and allowing us to offer the same joyful, inspiring education to even more children.