Farlington receives Secondary Geography Quality Mark

Farlington School has been awarded the Secondary Geography Quality Mark (SGQM) by the Geographical Association in recognition of excellence in teaching and learning in Geography.

Farlington is one of just 24 schools globally to be awarded the Secondary Geography Quality Mark in 2020. A prestigious award that recognises and promotes quality and progress in geography leadership, curriculum development, and learning and teaching in school, the SGQM is recognised nationally and internationally, and is valid for three years.

"I am absolutely thrilled to have successfully led the Geography Department through the Secondary Geography Quality Mark," says Nicky Edgar, Head of Geography at Farlington. "Our success is testament to the dedication and enthusiasm of the Geography Department at Farlington School over the past 18 months."

The SGQM selection process is a rigorous one, with schools assessed on a number of challenging criteria, including quality of Geography education; how this education shapes behaviour, attitudes and values; how the school supports students’ personal development; and how Geography education is led and managed within the school. The relevant department is required to provide evidence to demonstrate excellence across all these areas.

"The Geography Department plays a crucial role in leading innovative and creative learning and teaching best practice across the faculty of Social Sciences and the wider school," says Caroline Newell, Head of Social Sciences at Farlington. "Nicky and her team have cultivated an inspiring curriculum, which engages students both within lessons and outside the classroom. It is fantastic that this has been recognised at the highest level."

Headmistress Louise Higson, keen to add her congratulations, says, "I am delighted and so proud that the Geography Department has achieved this accolade. It is testament to the dedication and commitment of Nicky Edgar and her team, whose inspirational teaching makes Geography at Farlington come alive!"

Geography students at Farlington are full of praise for the school's teaching of the subject. "I find Geography inspiring and intriguing due to the complex interrelationship between people and the physical environment," says A-Level Geography student Varsha. "What attracted me to studying the subject at Farlington was the teachers' enthusiasm at the Open Day I attended. I believe the best teachers are those who have a real passion for the subject they teach, and I felt that was clearly evident with Mrs Edgar and Mr Smith."

Fellow A-Level Geographer Ben says, "At A-level, the topics studied involve both human and physical geography, and this enables me to engage with some of the most critical challenges facing the world today. I chose to study Geography at Farlington following a series of pre-A-Level taster lessons organised by the Geography Department during lockdown; the interactive style of teaching really appealed to me. I also know past students of Geography at Farlington, who are extremely positive about their experience. The Geography Department at Farlington certainly has a very positive reputation in the local area."

In awarding the SGQM to Farlington, Alan Parkinson of the National Moderation Team for the Geographical Association, said, "The evidence showed a department that is always looking for opportunities to develop further, even though it is one with a great deal of prior teaching experience."