News Fieldwork in Action: Year 10 Investigate the River Chess 18.03.2026

Our first field trip to the River Chess in March coincided with the warmest day of the year so far!

Our Year 10 students had a wonderful day both in and out of the water, measuring channel characteristics, river velocity, and sediment size. The River Chess is a chalk stream which is a globally rare habitat, with England home to approximately 85% of those found on Earth. Many of these streams, including the Chess, have their source in the chalk uplands of the Chilterns. Despite a wet start to the year leaving the river running higher than usual, the students showed impressive dedication to their data collection and managed to secure a full set of results. This was also the first outing for our new fieldwork equipment, including high-tech digital calipers and precision flow meters, which were very purchased as a result of a generous donation from the PTFA.

The girls were remarkably committed to their data collection, with many returning home with wet socks but plenty of happy memories!