Harrow Way Community School is the only school in Hampshire and one of only seven schools nationally to be awarded the much coveted Geographical Association Centre of Excellence status. In recognition of excellence in teaching and learning in geography the school has also once again been awarded the Secondary Geographical Quality Mark (SGQM).

Headteacher Michael Serridge said: “We strive for the very highest standards in teaching and learning across the entire curriculum here at Harrow Way. It is therefore incredibly rewarding to see these standards recognised by leading industry organisations such as the Geographical Association. We have seen the benefit of this partnership with over 130 students taking GCSE Geography last year and I have every confidence that the subject will continue to flourish as a result of the Secondary Geographical Quality Mark and our recent designation as a Centre of Excellence”.

Harrow Way underwent a rigorous moderation process, hugely impressing the team of assessors who evaluated the school’s quality and progress in geography leadership, curriculum development and learning and teaching. The assessors also looked at student attainment, progress and achievement in geographical knowledge, understanding, values and skills which also scored highly securing Harrow Way the official kite mark of quality.

The Centres of Excellence are hubs of excellence, pivotal to the Geographical Association’s desire to spread good practice through the development of local networks of teachers. Harrow Way has been recognised for its quality approach to the teaching of geography, global learning and fieldwork and the school’s geographical teaching team were also recognised as enthusiastic curriculum leaders who inspire their colleagues.

Commenting on the importance of having a quality provision with schools Rebecca Kitchen, Secondary Curriculum Leader at the Geographical Association said: ‘It is vital for young people today to experience an engaging, relevant and quality geography curriculum which helps them to make sense of an increasingly interconnected world and to negotiate their place within it. Yet, in a time of curriculum change and performance indicators it is sometimes easy to lose sight of this. The SGQM enables schools to focus critically on what they are doing and why, in order to provide their young people with the knowledge and understanding they need to live in the modern world.’