STARGAZERS are staying behind at school especially to study a new astronomy GCSE.

Students have delved into the depths of outer-space at Abingdon School since the course began in September.

The after-school course, led by Jeremy Thomas, is open to several institutions in the area as part of the Abingdon Science Partnership based at the school.

Classmate and Larkmead School pupil Siobhan Murray, 14, said: "Astronomy is something different and you wouldn't normally be able to learn about it, I think it will be really interesting."

Also among the class is one of Larkmead's teachers, Laura Scarff, who embraced role reversal and became a student again to satisfy her curiosity about space.

She said: "I've always been interested in astronomy but have never had the opportunity to study it so I jumped at the chance to get involved."

Pupils from Fitzharrys School and John Mason School complete the mix of classmates, which meets weekly in the school's Yang Science Centre.

They have so far learnt about the characteristics of the Earth as a planet and have been investigating the effects of the atmosphere on astronomical observations.

Throughout the next two years they will cover topics about the solar system, galaxies and cosmology and will be tasked with two observation activities using telescopes.