A THORNBURY secondary school is celebrating after its geography department received high praise from a national standards board.

The geography department at The Castle School has been awarded Centre of Excellence status by the Geography Association.

The Key Stage Three Secondary Geography Quality Mark was developed by the Geographical Association, sponsored by the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

The award recognises geography departments, which use creative approaches to stimulate learning and promote understanding by using real life issues.

The Castle School’s geography department was one of only three schools across the country to be given this gold standard status in the latest round of awards.

A spokesman for The Castle School said: "This reflects not just the high quality and enthusiastic leadership of the geography department, but also the contribution to quality geography beyond the school, in the wider community."