Margam Discovery Centre Port Talbot Field Studies Council

Field Studies Council Margam Discovery Centre offers fieldwork and outdoor learning for groups of all ages at centres across the UK. Trips use adventure and outdoor learning to expand children’s experiences and teach curriculum focused work to inspire everyone about the environment.

Primary field trips enable you to pick and choose from a range of exciting adventure or curriculum sessions to build your own trip. A visit to our centre will immerse primary school children in the natural world, taking in its sights, sounds and smells.

For secondary and A level groups we offer geography, biology and environmental science courses. Courses can be tailored to your own requirements to ensure you get the most from your visit and trips utilise the local environment to fully engage students.

Margam Discovery Centre is situated within Margam Park, an 850-acre country estate, with easy access to a wide variety of field sites on the Gower ANOB and Afan Forest Park, perfect for school and educational group experiences.

Surrounded by beautiful parkland to explore, Margam has easy access to a wide variety of field sites it is an excellent base for fun outdoor activities, geography and biology trips at all ages. We have access to a wide variety of field sites on the Gower, Heritage Coast and Brecon Beacons. Yes still easy to reach situated just of the M4 between Swansea and Cardiff.

Outdoor Learning courses are created to complement the curriculum, and engage pupils with subjects in fresh, hands-on ways.

Adventure learning encourages children to push beyond their comfort zones and discover what they’re capable of. With carefully tailored, age-appropriate challenges, every child is supported to grow their knowledge and learn in new and exciting ways.

• All our residential centres will provide you with:
• A qualified tutor to oversee your trip
• Pre-trip planning including itinerary, kit lists, and risk assessments
• Centres with up to 180 beds, offering flexible rooming options and all bedding included
• Healthy filling meals from dinner on your first day to a packed lunch on your last day
• We hold Learning Outside the Classroom’s Quality Badge so there is less paperwork for you

LOtC

The GA Secondary Geography Quality Mark

SGQM Centre of Excellence

Geography:

We offer a range of sessions and courses covering human and environmental geography through fieldwork. Most sessions have short classroom sessions before and after. Teaching is delivered by fully trained and experienced tutors.

We can deliver geography courses from KS2 to A level.

KS2 pupils can use maps, stories and games to explore the woods. Discover the plants and animals that live here and design and build dens.

For KS4 and A level students we link all of our courses to the exam board requirements for each subject and can tailor the course to your specific needs.

Science:

We can offer a range of biology courses from KS2 to curriculum-based A level trips. Students undertake ecological investigations in a variety of inspiring habitats and complete relevant required practicals, from a range of a range of topics.

We also offer contextualised learning opportunities for KS3 science, where pupils explore a local environment, habitat or ecosystem, eg rocky shore, freshwater or woodland.

Students will look at a variety of plants and common animals using age appropriate classification keys to identify living things we find in our woodland and in our pond habitats.

KS2 pupils can look at a range of habitats, learning about microhabitats and how they provide the basic needs for living things. Pupils can learn to identify the different structures of plants and name a variety of common animals. We will mini beast hunt and observe them in their microhabitats.

Primary:

We have a wide range of activities such as minibeast hunt, pond dipping, hiking, low ropes, eco-activity, rock climbing, bushcraft, orienteering.

Identify basic survival needs, explore the woods, build a shelter and forage for wild foods. Follow a woodland trail and search for tracks and signs. A day filled with team building and problem-solving activities.

We can cater for groups of various sizes. Courses have a minimum of 10 students and have a maximum capacity of 142

Our courses are created carefully to link to curriculum requirements. We can work with you to tailor content to fit in with work back in the classroom. Tailored resources will be supplied to use before and after your trip to prepare students and encourage follow-up work to be completed.

We provide a variety of resources to support outdoor learning, on the Field Studies Council.

A detailed risk assessment for activities and teaching sites is undertaken which forms the basis of a dynamic approach to assessment by trained staff whilst in the field.

Contact our team for latest prices and availability:

01743-852100

or enquiries@field-studies-council.org

We are always looking for ways to make trips affordable for all schools. We currently offer:

15% off for new residential customers

Late availability offer – 25% off school residential trips with an arrival date during the next three months

Off-peak pricing available 

– Different price bands are offered throughout the year to offer value for money. Many of our visiting groups take advantage of our off-peak prices between November and February. Talk to our team about the best options for your group.

Prices include: 

course planning; fully risk assessed teaching sites; accommodation; specialist tutors; teaching resources; fieldwork equipment; classrooms and food. The only thing you need to add-on is transport. We even provide wellies & waterproofs at our residential centres.

Please contact us regarding your needs, although we provide wellies & waterproofs at our residential centres. We provide a full kit list here

All field teachers are trained in first aid and group management.

Bar: We have a licensed bar stocked with local ales and spirits, wines, soft drinks and snacks. Bring your own alcohol is not permitted.

Capacity: The centre has 142 beds and has 33 rooms all with en-suite facilities, arranged over four separate corridors and are controlled by programmable key fobs for security.

Car Parking: There is car parking space for approx. 30 vehicles.

Children’s Facilities: We have games and activities on-site for children aged 8+; however, younger children are welcome.

Common Room: There are two student common rooms at Margam Discovery Centre. Both with facilities for making hot and cold drinks and watching television.

Disabled Facilities: Five of our rooms are fully accessible and have specially adapted facilities for wheelchair users.

Hot and Cold Drinks: We have hot and cold drinks making facilities accessible around the centre.

Kitchen: Fully catered services for most dietary needs are available, as well as packed lunch-making services. 

Linen: All bedding is provided. Please strip your beds on departure. 

Outdoor Clothing: You can hire wellingtons, waterproof trousers and coats 

Outdoor Facilities: Extensive range of on-site and off-site activities.

Shop: Our shop sells drinks, snacks and souvenirs of your stay as well as a selection of Field Studies Council publications.

Wi-Fi: Free guest Wi-Fi is available throughout the centre. 

Workrooms: The centre has five classroom teaching facilities with interactive whiteboards and wireless internet access.

Disabled Facilities: Five of our rooms are fully accessible and have specially adapted facilities for wheelchair users.

Mon-Fri, 9am–5pm

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By road – Margam Country Park is easily accessible off Junction 38 of the M4 Motorway. If travelling from Swansea take Junction 38 and continue along the A48 signposted to Pyle. You pass the main gates to Margam Country Park and continue for just over a mile until you reach a very short section of dual carriageway. Just after the start of the dual carriageway you will see a brown sign on your left for Margam Discovery Centre and Twyn yr Hydd House, turn left here down the slip road until you approach a large set of double gates. If travelling from Cardiff, take junction 38 off the M4 motorway and go right around the large roundabout and take the A48 signposted to Pyle, the rest is the same as for the Swansea directions.

By train – Frequent Great Western links London Paddington, Reading, Swindon and Bristol Parkway (connections from northeast England and Midlands) with Port Talbot.
Arriva Trains Wales direct to Port Talbot from Cardiff, Newport, Hereford, Shrewsbury, Crewe and Manchester, with connections at Cardiff from south and west of England. For overseas visitors, there are good rail/air links from London Gatwick & Heathrow, Bristol and Cardiff International Airports. Bus X1 from outside Port Talbot train station; taxis are also available at station minibus transfer or taxi from centre possible from Port Talbot Parkway – approximately 10 miles away. Train information National Rail Enquiries: 08457 48 49 50

By bus – There are stops at the main road entrance, it’s a 15 minutes’ walk to the reception area. From Bridgend & Pyle: First Cymru X1 From Neath: First Cymru 226 or 227 to Port Talbot Bus Station, then X1 From Port Talbot Bus & Train Stations: First Cymru X1 From Swansea

Accessing Centre Gates – You will arrive at two sets of gates. The Margam Discovery Centre gates are the gates to the right and signposted ‘Margam Discovery Centre’. You will need to press the ‘CALL’ button in the silver box to the right of the gates to gain entry. Please speak clearly, specifying your name and organisation, our centre staff will activate the gates to allow you access.
Once inside the park, please follow signs to Margam Discovery Centre (left for cars, right for coaches). Once you have crossed the little stone bridge, take the next left and follow the road to the Discovery Centre. The centre car park is at the back of the building. Please park your vehicle and report to reception.