Ofsted praises primary for 'excellence' in geography

A London primary school was today named as one of the few in the country that is teaching geography excellently.

A report by schools watchdog Ofsted found the subject is "under pressure" in most schools. Fewer students are choosing geography at GCSE because of uninspiring teachers, and too few pupils are going on field trips, it warned.

But inspectors praised teachers at Pope John Roman Catholic School in Shepherd's Bush for making lessons exciting, and said their pupils "love" geography.

In one lesson about the Caribbean a teacher arranged for pupils to write to her mother, who lives in Trinidad, to bring the subject to life. Children were also allowed to use digital cameras and sat-navs, and communicated with pupils in Malta over the internet.

Education Secretary Michael Gove has included geography in the list of subjects pupils must pass at GCSE to qualify for the new English baccalaureate.