Mapmaker is making spatial thinking accessible to every child. Let’s look at the impact of this remarkable pilot.
The Mapmaker pilot, led by schools within the LGfL EdTech Hubs community, set out with a clear mission: to see if Geographic Information Systems (GIS) could be effectively used in primary settings. The answer was a resounding … YES
Schools like Exning Primary, Lawford C of E Primary, and Whitefield Primary have demonstrated that Mapmaker isn't just another digital tool; it is a "pedagogy-first" platform. By integrating it into the curriculum, these schools have moved beyond static paper maps to a world where data is alive and interactive.
Depth of Study without the Friction
The most significant achievement highlighted by the pilot is the depth of geographical spatial study achieved with minimal training. Traditionally, GIS was seen as a secondary school tool, but Mapmaker’s intuitive design has changed the narrative.
Because the platform is browser-based and requires no login, teachers reported that they could begin a high-level spatial analysis lesson within minutes, focusing on the geography rather than troubleshooting the technology.
The Power of "Free"
At a time when school budgets are under immense pressure, the pilot schools emphasised the importance of Mapmaker being free for everyone to use. This ensures that high-quality, National Geographic-curated data is available to every student, regardless of their school's socio-economic context.
Bob Usher, LGfL Content Manager, highlights the impact of this accessibility:
"We wanted to remove the barriers. By providing a specialist tool that is highly relevant yet free, we are levelling the playing field, allowing every primary child to develop the spatial literacy skills they need for the future."
Impact Across the Curriculum
Teachers from the pilot show that the achievements extended far beyond the geography lesson.
Some examples of how the tool was used across the curriculum include:
- Maths: Through real-world measurement and scale.
- History: By overlaying historical maps to see how local areas have changed over centuries.
- Science: Tracking climate data and biomes across the globe.
‘Mapmakers gave us a fantastic opportunity to enhance our geography skills of our children, not just the geography skills, but also the history skills and the inquiry skills. And to develop that that curiosity within our children’
Headteacher Katie Challinor, Hazel Slade Primary School
‘I teach in year four and year two, and in year four, we've been using it for looking at biomes across the world. We've been looking at plate tectonics, we've been looking at recent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, and looking at that real life data that's coming in and the children have been able to explore.’
Kezia Herzog, Class Teacher Exning Primary School
"The beauty of Mapmaker is its simplicity. It’s built for the classroom. You don't need to be a GIS expert... the children find their own pathways of discovery because the interface is so intuitive.
Katie Hall, Head of Education at Esri UK
The evidence from the EdTech Hubs is clear: Mapmaker empowers teachers, engages students, and brings the curriculum to life. So, to every UK educator, the tool is ready, the resources are there, and the world is waiting to be explored. Let’s put the world in their hands.
A "Runaway Success": Reflections from the Pilot Expedition
During the recent LGfL EdTech Hub pilot, Bob Usher (LGfL Content Manager) conducted an "expedition" across the UK to witness Mapmaker in action. His observations provide a powerful testament to the platform's versatility and its immediate impact on student outcomes.
The "Zero-Friction" Adoption
One of the most striking findings of the pilot was the extraordinary relationship between minimal staff training and high student impact. Bob noted:
"I’ve never seen a tool that has been so easy to adopt... the relationship between the amount of CPD support and the positive impact has been extraordinary."
Impact Across Every Key Stage
The pilot proved that Mapmaker isn't just for older students; it is a tool that scales from Reception to Year 6:
- Early Years & KS1: In Reception and Year 1, the tool was used to develop a "sense of place" and was even integrated into the literacy curriculum. Teachers were able to ask five-year-olds to find Cape Town, watching them navigate the globe with ease.
- Lower KS2: In Year 4, students tackled complex topics like plate tectonics—a subject traditionally reserved for Year 8 secondary students. The technology allowed for deep, meaningful learning much earlier than previously thought possible.
- Upper KS2: In Years 5 and 6, students used the platform for high-level geography news reports on earthquakes and volcanoes, demonstrating intense enthusiasm even in the post-SATs period.
Focusing on Geography, Not Technology
A key observation from the pilot was how quickly the technology "disappeared" into the background. Whether it was being used alongside immersive tech or integrated into standard classroom platforms, the focus remained entirely on the subject matter.
As Bob concluded, the pilot was an "absolute runaway success on every level," proving that Mapmaker can be used as the default "go-to tool" for developing a powerful sense of place and spatial literacy from the very start of a child's school journey.
Mapmaker is available now and is free to use.
You can meet and hear from the Pilot schools via the LGfL Mapmaker portal, as well as receive teacher support material.