New results data has revealed that Truro School students Zoe Mitchell and Alex Jones achieved the top mark in the country for GCSE geology.

Five Truro School students, Zoe Mitchell, Alex Jones, Lloyd Stein, Finn Walker and Alice Bebb, were in the top six.

At A level, Amy Ellis was fourth in the country for geology, having achieved full marks in two of the three modules. Eight students have also gone on to study geology at notable universities, including one at Oxford.

Asked how he felt when he found out the great news, Finn Walker said: “I was really surprised more than anything, I was very pleased about it. The first thing I did was call my Grandad to tell him; he’s a geologist so he was quite happy with me to say the least."

The new A-level and GCSE specifications place more emphasis on the completion of field activities as part of the students’ practical endorsement. Truro School has the benefit of being located in an area with such diverse geology.

Justine Hope, head of geology, said: “We are so fortunate that within such a short distance the students can see many of the structures that they need for their GCSE and A-level courses. Being able to see what they are studying in class out in the field is such an amazing opportunity.”

The school has over 50 years of shared teaching experience in the department. Ms Hope has taught both GCSE and A-level geology for over 15 years while fellow teacher, Ian Kenyon, has taught for over 37 years. Mr Kenyon has been contributing to the school’s specimen collection for a number of years. These ‘museum standard’ samples aid the teaching of the geology specification and are a great attribute to Truro School.

The geology department places emphasis on the employability of its students due to the large skillset that they are encouraged to develop. Ms Hope added: “It is a science but it is a descriptive science where they are having to problem solve and write reports…there are many different opportunities for those that study geology.”

She is hoping to strengthen the department’s credibility by making contacts with well-regarded universities. The department is also changing their approach to fieldwork, developing a rolling trip programme of Spain, Portugal and Iceland.