EDINA opening up Digimap for Schools to 1 million more pupils

A press release from the Ordnance Survey.

I've worked with Ordnance Survey and EDINA for many years.

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

Digimap for Schools was launched just over 15 years ago in partnership between OS and EDINA, at The University of Edinburgh. It is a flagship digital platform that provides interactive mapping tools for the teaching of geography, and other core education areas, in primary and secondary schools. It helps pupils and teachers develop digital and data skills, and explore 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, alongside three million who currently have access to the service. A programme of training will also be offered to educators, alongside the development of a new network of practising teachers to provide effective teaching support.

Free access to Digimap for Schools was previously sponsored by the government for schools rated Ofsted 3 or 4. This year, the eligibility criteria has been widened to include 1,800 schools in the lowest 8% of deprived areas in England and, for the first time, in Scotland and Wales. This will include cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff, and Glasgow. 

The new offer has been secured by Government Digital Service, under the Public Sector Geospatial Agreement.

"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."

Nick Bolton, Chief Executive of Ordnance Survey

© Crown copyright and database rights. Ordnance Survey 2026
Secondary school pupils working with Digimap for Schools

“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."

Steve Brace, Chief Executive of the Geographical Association

Digimap for Schools is aligned with the national curricula across Great Britain and enables students aged five to 16 and above to understand and investigate their world while gaining crucial digital and data skills. It is supported by access to a huge library of free learning resources, also available in Welsh, that are designed to aid teaching and support teachers in preparing impactful and interesting lessons, as well as allowing for student-led self-study. 

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 Geographical Society and the Geographical Association on a wide range of activities including the teaching of geography in schools, 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/.

Teachmeet at 20

Teachmeet is 20 this year.

It's 20 years since a group of Scottish teachers met in a pub to discuss their practice and share ideas.

My first Teachmeet was at the Scottish Learning Festival in 2008, chaired by Ewan McIntosh - one of the original Teachmeet crew. I talked about NINGs (social networks) - remember them?

In January 2009 I was at the Teachmeet BETT, with John Davitt and the infamous camel which was thrown at people who ran over time on their allotted few minutes.

I also attended the Education 20:20 conference on the Isle of Islay in summer of 2009 - we are overdue a repeat in a similar venue. The hospitality was legendary.

Not sure why I'm standing like that though...

You may recognise some, or all, or none of those people. 

That was a remarkable event where educators from Scotland and elsewhere gathered together to consider what the future of education could look like, as those entering school that year completed their education in 2020... which is in the past now of course.

I look so young here.... making notes on a 'Thinking Space' map - one of the early creations of the GGiP campaign with Dan Raven Ellison, David Rayner etc.

Teachmeet also moved into BETT, I remember the Teachmeet Takeover and did a session on our GA Stand in 2010, when the GA used to attend these sorts of events.

Mags Amond created a timeline of the development of Teachmeet.

In May 2011, I drove up to Scotland for TM Beyond, which involved the wonderful Juliet Robertson, who sadly passed away at the end of last year.

Image: Alan Parkinson

David Rogers, Richard Allaway and Matt Podbury persuaded Lucy Oxley to add a Teachmeet to the official programme... that was over 10 years ago now, although it is now coordinated by the GA themselves. I presented at many of those on a range of topics including cultural geography, emojiography and various blog projects.

Prior to that we had organised an unofficial Beermeet, and even had posters designed by the wonderful Tom Morgan Jones. Here's a non-TMJ poster for the 2019 event in Manchester.

Since then, I have chaired Teachmeet events at the Royal Geographical Society, both in person and virtually - which has been the format for the last five years or so, allowing people to join from all over instead of needing to travel to a particular venue.

Fiona Sheriff, who will become GA President in September 2026, has written about how 6 minutes in a Teachmeet inspired her to do some more events, and also apply to become a Fawcett Fellow and ultimately be voted as the GA President for 2026-27.

I was present at that Teachmeet. I actually ended up sitting outside my classroom on some grass so that I could get a signal to be able to join in - one of those COVID era things we ended up doing.

What are your own Teachmeet experiences?

If you haven't presented at one before, perhaps 2026 should be the year you put yourself forward to do that... who knows where it will lead you...

Why not sign up to attend the next RGS online Teachmeet, and put yourself forward for one in the future.

Practical Pedagogies 2026

One of the most inspiring events in 2026 will be the latest running of Practical Pedagogies. This is returning to where it started: the International School of Toulouse and is once again being organised by Russel Tarr. I’ve presented at every one so far. Unfortunately, this is in term time for me, so I won’t be able to attend, but it comes highly recommended if you can make it there - cheap flights are available from the UK to Toulouse airport.

Here’s Russ’s Call for Sessions, which is NOW OPEN! I’m delighted to announce the launch of Practical Pedagogies 2026 and warmly invite new, early-career, and experienced educators to submit session proposals focused on:

✔️ Resources and strategies that work in real classrooms
✔️ Practical approaches you’ve refined — even if you’re still refining them
✔️ Honest reflections on teaching, learning, and leadership

🗓️ Practical Pedagogies 2026 — BY teachers, FOR teachers
📍 International School of Toulouse, France
📅 Thursday 15 & Friday 16 October 2026
🎤 Keynote address by Ian Gilbert, internationally renowned educator on creativity and curiosity
🔗 Website: www.pracped.net

👉 New to presenting? You are absolutely welcome.
👉 Experienced presenter or subject expert? We’d love to learn from you too.

Submit a session proposal at www.pracped.net before the end of January.

GA Conference - 2026 programme now published

The price will rise in the New Year, so secure yours now. 

And you'll have a chance to see a double-act with me and Matt Podbury - worth the price alone! See you in Sheffield!

You can now browse the programme here... this session looks awesome.

Sign up to Sched to schedule in your events... 

Time to nominate someone for an OS award

Back in 2008 I was proud to receive one of two OS Awards for Excellence in Secondary Geography Teaching awarded each year by the Royal Geographical Society. The other award that year went to Louise Ellis.

Image: the RGS HQ - Alan Parkinson, shared on Flickr under CC license

It's time for nominations for all the RGS's awards for 2026, and that includes the OS Award as well. 

Do you have colleague who is particularly amazing and deserves some recognition for all they do for the geography subject community?
Perhaps they are your Head of Department, a member of your department or faculty, a fellow committee member, or someone you look to online for support, inspiration and resources.

Why not nominate them for a Royal Geographical Society teaching award?

Each year, the RGS acknowledges two teachers or educators through our Ordnance Survey Award for excellence in geography education at secondary level.

Nominations for 2026 close on 16 February, so be sure to get your nominations in before then!

The process is described here.

And there's a list of previous recipients on the RGS website so that you can check that they haven't already been given one... although I suppose there's no reason they couldn't be the first person to receive more than one.... 

There's some illustrious names on that list, and I know almost everyone there, and have worked with many of them in some way.

Geography SE Conference

Geography SouthWest has had a free teacher conference for some years...and now here's Geography SouthEast.

The first Geography Southeast teacher conference on Monday 29th June 2026 at Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey in conjunction with Geography Southwest.

Free entry to teachers.

This event will tap into key themes and skills in the geography curriculum, through keynote lectures, a selection of exciting and informative workshops and a room full of exhibitors, including publishers, exam boards and travel companies.

Watch this space for booking details and further updates.

RGS Eastern Region Christmas Social

The major event for RGS members and others in the East of England is also coming up in a few weeks’ time. I serve on the committee for this RGS local group and we organise lectures and talks through the course of the year.

On Wednesday December 10th, we are very pleased to say that the current Royal Geographical Society President: Professor Dame Jane Francis will be addressing our RGS East annual event on the topic of ‘On Thin Ice, a Life in the Antarctic’. 

The event will be held at Norwich School at the Refectory - a more spacious venue just round the corner from the Blake Studio where the sessions are normally held, with the same free parking. 

Doors will open at 7.00 with mulled wine awaiting you. Dame Jane’s talk will start at 7.30 and there will be more wine / soft drinks and plenty of delicious ‘finger food’ after her talk.

Dame Jane Francis will be talking about her own life in polar research while also covering the cutting-edge research now being done in Cambridge, including the threat to the Antarctic ice shelf, a major potential climate change tipping point. This work is both fascinating and vitally important. Jane Francis is Director of British Antarctic Survey. In 2017 she was appointed Dame (DCMG) in recognition of services to UK polar science and diplomacy. She became Chancellor of the University of Leeds in 2018, and was elected President of the Royal Geographical Society in 2024. She also serves on the European Polar Board and co-chairs the Atlantic Treaty’s Working Group on Science and Operations. Her own research focuses on understanding past climate change during both greenhouse and icehouse periods, particularly in the polar regions, the areas on Earth most sensitive to climate change.

There is a charge of £12 for non-RGS members, and £8 for members. 

If you haven’t already registered and wish to join us, please register in good time at www.rgs.org/events. 

Please also encourage young people to come - and be inspired by Jane Francis’s remarkable life in the coldest areas of the planet.

I shall see you there - probably serving mulled wine and taking some photos...