GEOGRAPHICAL investigations were key in a recent trip for Winton Community Academy students.

Fourteen pupils headed to Southbourne Beach, close to Hengistbury Head, to evaluate to what extent coastal management in the area is effective.

During the trip, the group visited a number of sites along the stretch of coastline and gained first-hand experience of how the coastal system works and how different types of coastal management contribute to maintaining our beaches.

At each site the students and teachers measured the width of the beach, the beach profile, the size of the pebbles and also the frequency and size of the waves landing on the beach.

Gathering this information will allow students to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of the coastal management techniques used along this stretch of the coastline.

After lunch the group visited Mudeford Spit and completed their investigation next to some of the most expensive beach huts in the world.

Geography teacher Paul George said: “Everyone really enjoyed the opportunity to get ‘out and about’ in our local region and to study the geography at close quarters.”