11 September 2007

Schoolchildren mapping out their future with help from Ordnance Survey

Ordnance Survey launches its annual Free maps for 11-year-olds initiative in England and Wales today, giving tens of thousands of schoolchildren the opportunity to get active and discover the world around them.

The scheme offers every Year 7 pupil a free 1:25 000 scale OS Explorer Map of their local area. It has received an overwhelming response since its launch in 2002, with almost four million maps distributed across Great Britain.

Studies into the initiative show that it has significantly fostered the teaching and learning of geography and extended pupils’ understanding and enthusiasm for using maps.

It not only supports geography and environmental studies but also helps to encourage pupils and their families to get out and about to explore their local community. It has been praised by teaching professionals, pupils and parents alike.

"The maps are helping young people across the country to develop vital skills in interpreting geographic information," says Vanessa Lawrence, Ordnance Survey’s Director General and Chief Executive. "These skills will support them in their future lives, whether they are looking at mapping on paper or on a computer screen."

Steve Brace, Head of Education at the Royal Geographical Society comments, "There is no better introduction to your local geography than an Ordnance Survey map. They can help spark a curiosity about the world that will last well beyond a pupil's geography lessons."

Education Minister for Wales, Jane Hutt, adds, "This is a wonderful scheme that will encourage thousands of children across Wales to discover the fun and value of maps, while developing a range of valuable skills and techniques to help them explore our beautiful country".

This year pupils are being encouraged to design their own map symbol through a special competition. They can win a day with survival expert and television presenter Ray Mears learning navigation and bushcraft skills.

In a new competition for teachers, Ray Mears has also offered to work with a school using their free maps outdoors. He will choose his personal favourite from all the entries describing imaginative projects or exercises involving the free maps scheme. The winning school will then be contacted to arrange a visit from him.

Teachers across Britain are invited to order the free maps on behalf of their pupils at the start of the autumn term. They are made available for Year 7 as this is the point at which map skills are mandatory under the national curriculum in England and Wales and the national guidelines for education in Scotland. Scottish schools have already begun registering since the start of term a few weeks ago.

Ordnance Survey is keen to make the free maps initiative as inclusive as possible. Teachers of children with visual impairment are being encouraged to download free extracts of the same 1: 25 000 scale information shown on the maps from the Get-a-map service on Ordnance Survey’s website – www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getamap. It is easy to save and enlarge the extracts for teaching purposes.  

The free maps scheme was honoured twice last year by the charity Business in the Community. The initiative won an official Big Tick for responsible business practice and was shortlisted for the Merrill Lynch Investing in Young People Award.

Ordnance Survey’s website for children – www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/mapzone – is playing an increasingly important role in the free maps scheme by offering interactive games and activities online. It recently won a gold award from the Geographical Association for the quality of its GIS Zone learning resource.

The scheme, coupled with Ordnance Survey’s work with Scouts and Scout Leaders at this year’s 21^st World Scout Jamboree, demonstrates the organisation’s commitment to education and to helping people of all ages and abilities to make the most of the great outdoors.

To take advantage of the scheme, teachers must place their order by 9 November on the Ordnance Survey free maps website – www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/freemapsfor11yearolds.

For more information call the free maps helpline on 0845 337 3133.

Note to editors

Merrill Lynch is a registered trademark of Merrill Lynch & Co, Inc. Business in the Community is a trademark of Business in the Community.

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Head of Corporate Communications - Rob Andrews

Email: rob.andrews@ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Phone: (+44) 023 8079 2265

Senior Communications & PR Officer - Paul Beauchamp

Email: paul.beauchamp@ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Phone: (+44) 023 8079 2568

Press Office fax: (+44) 023 8030 5295