A school has been invited to a prestigious event at the House of Lords.

Blackheath High School GDST, an independent school for girls aged 3-18, was recognised for its innovative partnership with the Royal Observatory, Greenwich.

The collaboration, which offers a GCSE in Astronomy to aspiring physics students, was celebrated at the Independent Schools Council's (ISC) 'Celebrating Partnerships' event on November 5.

Lord Lucas hosted this event, which highlighted the various ways in which state and independent schools across the UK are working together.

The recognised collaborations include academic support programmes, teacher development initiatives, careers advice, music and arts projects, and sporting partnerships.

The event was attended by MPs, peers, and representatives from the education sector.

Notable speakers included Lord Lucas, Julie Robinson, ISC chief executive, Oliver Blond, current chief executive of the School Partnerships Alliance (SPA), and Dr Joe Spence, incoming CEO of the SPA.

Blackheath High School's partnership with the Royal Observatory was featured in the ISC's 2024 'Celebrating Partnerships' report.

This partnership allows aspiring physicists from across the borough to study the unusual subject of GCSE Astronomy.

Katherine Hickman, assistant head (learning and enrichment) at Blackheath High School, said: "We are thrilled to collaborate with our local community to offer a competitive, highly sought-after opportunity to study GCSE Astronomy.

"This partnership exemplifies our commitment to meaningful outreach and supporting our local community, and has also allowed us to build long-term relationships with schools across the local area including Thomas Tallis School, Eltham Hill School, Thomas More Catholic Comprehensive School and The John Roan School."

She added: "By extending the curriculum beyond standard Mathematics and Physics, we not only stretch and challenge students academically but also prepare them for higher education through a range of essential study skills.

"Our research shows that our students who have taken GCSE Astronomy are more likely to pursue A-levels in Science and Mathematics and continue on to STEM studies at university."

ISC chief executive, Julie Robinson, said: "It is a pleasure to celebrate the inspiring initiatives featured in this year’s Celebrating Partnerships report, which demonstrate the power of working together to achieve key educational aims.

"We hope these mutually beneficial partnerships continue to thrive, reaching even greater numbers of children and young people."