Margam Discovery Centre Port Talbot Field Studies Council
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Margam Discovery Centre Margam Park, Port Talbot, Wales, SA13 2UA
MONTHS OPEN
DAYS OPEN
AGE GROUPS SERVED
Listed under: Environmental Studies | Geography | Science | Accommodation & Residential | Outdoor Residential Centres | Environment Centres | Field Study Centres | Ecology & Green Awareness | Outdoor Education | Residential School Trips | Conservation | Biology | Field Studies | Enrichment Learning
What we offer on a school trip
FSC offers fieldwork and outdoor learning for groups of all ages at centres across the UK. Trips use our stunning locations to teach curriculum focused work and 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. Visits to FSC Flatford Mill 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. FSC can tailor courses to your own requirements to ensure you get the most from your visit and trips utilise the local environment to fully engage students.
Bring your subject to life in the outdoor classroom!
What makes us a great choice for education
Visit this centre set in the Margam Country Park, surrounded by beautiful parkland to explore. With 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.
Access to a wide variety of field sites on the Gower, Heritage Coast and Brecon Beacons.
Easy to reach situated just of the M4 between Swansea and Cardiff.
Purpose built centre building with ensuite rooms.
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.
We have passionate and experienced teaching staff.
FSC take care of everything once you arrive; comfortable accommodation, all your meals (residential visits) plus transport during the course.
We offer different price bands through the year to offer value for money.
There is an FSC Kids Fund and FSC Bursary Fund available to offer financial support to those who may not otherwise be able to visit us.
FSC Margam is part of FSC, an environmental education charity with 75 years’ experience of providing fieldwork and outdoor learning and a network of UK centres offering day and residential fieldwork opportunities.
Our charity works in many other ways to create a world where everyone feels connected to the environment including through projects working in local communities and lobbying government to include fieldwork in the curriculum.
What is typically included on our school trips
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.
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 offer a range of biology courses from KS2 to curriculum-based A level trips. 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.
We offer a range of sessions and courses covering human geography through fieldwork. Most sessions have short classroom sessions before and after. Teaching is delivered by fully trained and experienced tutors.
We can offer a range of 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.
We offer a range of sessions and courses covering environmental geography through fieldwork. Most sessions have short classroom sessions before and after. Teaching is delivered by fully trained and experienced tutors.
We offer a range of sessions and courses covering field studies. 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.
We have a wide range of activities such as:
Primary: minibeast hunt, pond dipping, hiking, low ropes, eco-activity, rock climbing, bushcraft, orienteering
Secondary/A level: geography independent investigations, adventurous geography, river study, biology core practicals
Group Sizes Catered For
We can cater for groups of varying size. Some courses have a minimum of 10 students. This centre has 142 beds.
Materials, Resources & Information Provided
FSC 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.
We provide a variety of resources to support outdoor learning, on the FSC website.
Risk Assessment Details
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.
Pricing Information
Contact our team for latest prices and availability:
01743-852100 or enquiries.mp@field-studies-council.org
FSC 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.
Many of our visiting groups take advantage of our off-peak prices between November and February. Between November and February, courses start at just £10 per primary pupil and £22 per secondary student for day courses.
We are always looking for ways to make FSC trips affordable for all schools. As well as off-peak pricing we work with project funders, and we distribute Grants for Schools to enable access to outdoor learning for everyone.
Clothing Requirements
Please contact us regarding your needs, although we provide wellies & waterproofs at our residential centres.
Available Facilities
Car Parking: There are limited parking facilities available at the centre.
Children's Facilities: We are an Educational Centre and have games and activities on-site for children aged 8+; however, younger children are welcome.
Common Room: There is two student common rooms at Margam Discovery Centre. Both with facilities for refreshments and watching television.
Hot and Cold Drinks: We have hot and cold drinks making facilities accessible around the centre.
Kitchen: Fully catered services for all dietary needs available, as well as packed lunch making services.
Linen: All bedding is provided
Lounge: We have an adult lounge area with comfy sofas.
Outdoor Clothing: You can hire walking boots, wellingtons, small rucksacks, 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 FSC publications.
WIFI: Free guest WIFI is available through-out the centre.
Workrooms: The centre has five classroom teaching facilities with interactive whiteboards and wireless internet access.
Accessibility & Disabled Facilities
Five of our rooms are fully accessible and have specially adapted facilities for wheelchair users.
Location Information
Bus: Stops at main road entrance, 15 minutes walk to 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: First Cymru X1 Bus information Traveline Cymru; 0871 200 22 33; text 84268
Train to Port Talbot Parkway: Frequent Great Western links London Paddington, Reading, Swindon and Bristol Parkway (connections from north east 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 also available at station Minibus transfer or taxi from centre possible from Port Talbot Parkway – approx 10miles away Train information National Rail Enquiries: 08457 48 49 50
Car: 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.
FSC has developed links with First Travel Solutions (FTS), and we recommend them as a coach travel provider to help reduce the cost of transport for academic groups to our Centres. FTS provide a fully supported, UK wide school travel service, providing a dedicated contact for each coach booking from the initial contact through to tracked delivery with 100% security on all deposits paid. If you would like to receive a quote from First Travel Solutions please enquire here.
Room Sizes and Facilities
Capacity: The centre has 33 rooms all with en-suite facilities, arranged over four separate corridors and are controlled by programmable key fobs for security. These can be used as single, twin, three, four or six bed rooms.
Booking information
Contact our team for latest prices and availability:
01743-852100 or enquiries.mp@field-studies-council.org
