Something new is coming for geography teaching in schools

Ordnance Survey (OS) will reach out to 1,800 primary and secondary schools in some of the most deprived areas of Great Britain. It will offer a free education resource for the teaching of geography.

Digimap for Schools was launched just over 15 years ago. It was created through a partnership between OS and EDINA at The University of Edinburgh. It is a flagship digital platform that provides interactive mapping tools. These tools support the teaching of geography and other core curriculum areas in primary and secondary schools. It helps pupils and teachers develop digital and data skills. It allows them to explore both modern and historical maps as well as aerial imagery. Around one-sixth of schools in England – more than 18 million pupils – have used the service since 2020.

The new offer means Digimap for Schools will reach more than one million schoolchildren in the most deprived areas across Britain. This is in addition to the three million pupils who already have access to the service. Educators will also receive a programme of training. Practising teachers will develop a new network to provide effective teaching support.

The government previously sponsored free access to Digimap for Schools for schools rated Ofsted 3 or 4. This year, it widened the eligibility criteria to include 1,800 schools in the lowest 8 per cent of deprived areas in England. For the first time, this also extends to Scotland and Wales. This will include cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff and Glasgow. The latest offer was secured by Government Digital Service, under the Public Sector Geospatial Agreement. 

Nick Bolton, chief executive of OS, said:

“It is fundamental that we support the effective teaching of geography in schools, building confidence when using interactive mapping tools, and fostering critical technical skills to grow our future geographers. We are delighted to announce the extension of Digimap for Schools to those with the greatest need in England, Scotland and Wales. We encourage headteachers to take advantage of this offer and introduce Digimap for Schools into their classrooms this year.”

Jo Skinner, head of geography at Noadswood School in Southampton, said:

“The real benefit of using Digimap for Schools is that it brings geography to life. We’ve mainly used it to boost our fieldwork where the students can gather information outside the classroom and then upload it onto a digital map where they can identify patterns. We’ve also used it to develop GIS skills, which are really important in the geography curriculum.”

Noadswood School has been using Digimap for Schools for the last three years. The school’s head of geography, Jo Skinner, said they had seen a real increase in the number of students taking geography. They also recognised great engagement from students using Digimap for Schools.

The overall number of students sitting geography GCSE exams has grown for 14 consecutive years. This reflects a growing understanding of the subject’s importance in addressing urgent issues such as climate change, economic inequality, and migration. Geography is currently the sixth most popular subject at GCSE. Just under 300,000 students in England and Wales sat geography exams last year.

Steve Brace, chief executive of the Geographical Association, said:

“Geography plays an important role in helping young people understand the world around them. Our members tell us that digital tools like Digimap for Schools are invaluable for geography teachers to enrich the curriculum learning experience and put data analysis directly into the hands of pupils. We welcome this initiative for schools in deprived areas, as well as the expansion into Scotland and Wales, and encourage all eligible schools to sign-up.”

Digimap for Schools aligns with the national curricula across Great Britain. It enables students aged five to 16 and above to understand and investigate their world. The platform helps learners develop crucial digital and data skills and is supported by access to a huge library of free learning resources. These resources are also available in Welsh. These resources are designed to aid teaching and support teachers in preparing impactful and interesting lessons. They also allow for student-led self-study. Its main aims are to ensure that:

• schools and teachers have access to OS mapping and other complementary data such as aerial photography and historical maps
• young people have a basic level of competency in using OS data and mapping​
• there is an understanding that geography can help solve problems in society
• people understand how OS mapping touches the different stages of their lives​
• professional level competency is built across multiple domains
• geographic careers are promoted to help enhance skills training in key areas.

Gavin Maclachlan, chief information officer and librarian to The University of Edinburgh, said:

“This initiative marks a significant milestone in EDINA’s ongoing collaboration with Ordnance Survey and shows its commitment to promoting geography and geospatial skills in schools. By providing equal access for high-quality educational resources, the University is helping to ensure that all students have the opportunity to reach their full potential. As EDINA celebrates its 30th anniversary, this latest initiative is a testament to the institution’s reputation for innovation in educational technology and its role as a leader in the field.”

OS recently published an impact report on its commitment to lifelong learning in geography and geospatial. It also collaborates closely with organisations such as the Royal Geographic Society and the Geographical Association on a wide range of activities. This includes not only the teaching of geography in schools but also educational outcomes and promoting geography.

Headteachers of eligible schools will be directly contacted about the new offer in the next month. For further information about the Digimap for Schools Free Access Scheme, visit: https://digimapforschools.edina.ac.uk/about/imd/

For more information about OS’s resources for schools, go to the teaching resources link at  www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/education.