Ordnance Survey has launched a new online mapping service for schools across Britain.

Digimaps for Schools gives pupils access for the first time to maps showing individual building outlines as well as familiar scales of mapping used by outdoor enthusiasts and on websites.

Ordnance Survey has provided all 11-year-olds with a free OS Explorer map of their area for the past nine years. This year, schools with 11-year- olds are also being offered free access to Digimap for Schools until December, 2011.

“When we look at how young people engage with technology, it seems very appropriate to provide mapping digitally and in a relevant way that they will continue to use into adulthood,” said Vanessa Lawrence, chief executive of Ordnance Survey.

Use of maps is considered relevant to every level of Curriculum for Excellence, particularly for the “people, place and environment” section in social studies.

www.jcs.nen.gov.uk.