Syllabuses are up to date, relevant and reflect staff research interests. Student progression rates are excellent. Student-staff ratios are extremely favourable allowing substantial individual contact between staff and students, which contributes to the excellent overall relationship. The student support services are excellent, both in range and quality. The School and the Department create an excellent ambience for scholarship.
Staff are highly qualified and very active in research.
Library resources are outstanding and IT and cartographic facilities are excellent. The Department is well provided with support staff. This impacts particularly on student choice of units within the BSc course. There is no specific or co-ordinated strategy for the development of students' transferable skills. There are problems with the integration of classes into the lecture programme.