Nettlecombe Court Outdoor Residential Centre Williton Somerset Field Studies Council

Field Studies Council 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.

Nettlecombe Court Outdoor residential Centre Williton Somerset Field Studies Council
STEM South West
Residential school trips South West
Field studies South West

Nettlecombe Court Field Study Centre is located in a valley at the edge of Exmoor National Park. The country mansion is set within heritage parkland, ancient woodland and is near an SSSI due to its lichen communities, great for Conservation studies

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
• The centre offers 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

DofE Approved Activity provider

John Muir Award

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 Nettlecombe Court has a maximum capacity of 120.

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 

Capacity: All of our accommodation is in one building and altogether we are able to accommodate approximately 120 people. This is spread across two single bedrooms, three twin rooms and 18 dormitory rooms which vary in size from 4-12 beds. 11 of the 23 rooms are en-suite and there are four other designated bathrooms. 

Car Parking: There is car parking at the centre with space for around 40 cars.

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

Common Room: There is a student common room at Nettlecombe Court, with facilities for watching television, use of a pool table, football table and some video games machines.

Disabled Access: The location has disabled access. 

Disabled Facilities: We have one accessible en-suite bedroom on the first floor. 

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, but you will be required to bring your own towels. 

Lounge: We have an adult lounge area with comfy sofas. 

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

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

Shop: Our shop branded souvenirs such as hats buffs and water bottles, plus drinks and snacks as well as a selection of our Wild ID guides.

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

Workrooms: There are 5 workrooms at Nettlecombe Court. Seating from 14 – 32 students. We encourage students to bring their own laptops and tablet computers for educational courses.

Disabled Access: The location has disabled access. 

Disabled Facilities: We have one accessible en-suite bedroom on the first floor. 

Mon-Fri, 9am–5pm

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By train/bus – The nearest station is Taunton (15 miles). Taunton is on the mainline rail link, direct trains will get you from London to Taunton in under 2 hours. A station pickup and drop-off from the train station to the centre can be arranged, at an additional cost prior to the course. Please get in touch to discuss further.
There are regular buses from the station to Williton, but you will need to get a taxi for the final section to the centre.

By road – From the M5: Follow the A358 (from Taunton) or the A39 (from Bridgewater) to Williton and then the A39 towards Minehead. After approximately 1 mile at Washford Cross roundabout (beside the radio masts/Tropiquaria) take the 1st exit onto the B3190 (signposted towards Wiveliscombe/
Monksilver).
After approximately ¾ mile turn left onto the B3188 (signposted Wiveliscombe/Monksilver/Combe Sydenham). Follow the B3188 into the hamlet of Woodford (approximately 1 mile) and turn right onto Nettlecombe Park Road. After a short while there is a turning to the right signposted to Nettlecombe Court.
From Minehead: follow the A39 towards Williton. At Washford Cross roundabout (beside the radio masts/Tropiquaria) take the 3rd exit onto the B3188 (signposted Wiveliscombe/Monksilver). After approximately ¾ mile turn left onto the B3188 (signposted Wiveliscombe/Monksilver/Combe Sydenham).
Follow the B3188 into the hamlet of Woodford (approximately 1 mile) and turn right onto Nettlecombe Park Road. After a short while there is a turning to the right signposted to Nettlecombe Court.
Coaches – Please note that it is not advisable to approach the centre on the B3188 from the south as directed by Sat Nav (via Monksilver/Elworthy)
For those using a Sat Nav, Nettlecombe Court’s postcode is TA4 4HT.

Contact our team for latest prices and availability:

01743-852100 or enquiries@field-studies-council.org