Year 8 Park School Geography Students at Yeovilton

Yeovilton hosted a visit by Yeovil’s Park School students  as part of their Key Stage 3 syllabus. They were accompanied by their Geography teacher, Mrs Stephanie Shillito who is about to retire from teaching after nearly 40 years of service.

The Year 8 students were given an in depth and top level view of life in the Air Traffic Control Tower where they saw the workings of a typical Hydrographic and Meteorology Office, commonly referred to as just Met, and were given the task of conducting some observations tasks using some of the more traditional methods employed by the ‘weather watchers’. The Senior Met Officer, Lt Cdr John Gunn RN, said “It’s important to know how to conduct the traditional skills at all times because there may come a time when the modern electronic systems fail and the back up is needed”. The Hydrographic and Meteorology Branch within the Royal Navy requires highly skilled personnel who have excellent academic capabilities and the importance of learning meteorology was put across to the students some of whom may aspire to life within the service. The only thing the Met Branch couldn’t do during the visit was to promise an end to the current wet weather!

Once the students had completed their observations they were taken over to 848 Naval Air Squadron to have a good look around the Commando Sea King Helicopter where they were able to get a very close view inside the aircraft. This short visit to the Air Station has given them added motivation in their studies with the syllabus being put into a practical context.