A BICESTER school has scored top marks for its geography teaching.

The Cooper School in Churchill Road has been awarded the Secondary Geography Quality Mark (SGQM) – one of 371 to be handed out since 2006.

Examiners came to the school and highlighted “new and innovative approaches to teaching” and were “hugely impressed”.

The Cooper School head of geography Dave Chambers said: “We are absolutely thrilled to win this award. It shows the great progress that the geography department continues to make when measured against other schools in the country.

“Geography is an increasingly popular choice at GCSE and A-level nationally and this is reflected in our uptake at the school.”

There has been a 15 per cent increase in students taking GCSE this year and a 10 per cent increase in those taking A-level.

He added: “This award demonstrates the strengths within the school – the enthusiasm, creativity and willingness of students, and teachers alike – to embrace new ways of teaching and learning. The award particularly highlighted the department’s strength in using new technologies to facilitate outstanding learning.

“We have access to a set of laptops and use Google classroom for setting tasks and providing resources for our students. We also use Google Earth and various add-ons for assessing students’ progress.”

The SGQM mark was awarded by the Geographical Association, which works to support primary and secondary schools in geography across the country. This year the mark was also awarded to schools overseas.

Assessors noted the innovative approach The Cooper School had been applying to geography. This included a recent trip in which eight students were taken to visit University of Oxford geography and environmental studies department.

Pupils were able to talk about courses available and toured the science library and Keble College.

Year 7 pupil Ella Bentley, 11, said: “I like geography because we do lots of learning about different places, getting to know where everything is.”

Assessors looked at student attainment, progress and achievement in areas such as geographical knowledge, understanding, skills and concepts. The scheme aims to help teachers raise the standards of geography in their school.

Geography Association chief executive Alan Kinder said: “I am delighted that a growing number of primary schools are teaching their students to fully engage with the subject. There has never been a more important time for children and young people to study geography. Growing up in the 21st century means living in an increasingly interconnected world.”