Education updated 20th September 2023Promoting Outdoor Learning through Orienteering

Ravenscraig Park 050123

Ravenscraig Park 050123
Credit: TOBEM

Last Updated: Wed 20 Sept 2023

September 2023 update

Project 67 delivered to St.Paul's HS, Pollok.

June 2023 update

Ravenscraig Park Project delivered.

St.Paul's High School, Glasgow's resource via Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme in preparation.

3 other schools considering future projects - 1 Glasgow Secondary, 1 East Dunbartonshire Secondary and 1 Glasgow Primary School.

January 2023

Ravenscraig Park project underway.

STAG's work in North Lanarkshire continues to expand with another innovative project this time centred on the Regional Sports Facility at Ravenscraig.

Initiated by our very own NLC Education Liaison Officer, Jim McCormack a permanent resource is being installed in the local park primarily for use by youngsters associated with Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme based in the area.

Added to this STAG hope to host the 2023 Scottish Schools Orienteering Festival in June at Drumpellier Country Park, Coatbridge.

December 2022

Meeting with Max Twomey, South Lanarkshire's DoE Coordinator.

10th November 2022

NLC Duke of Edinburgh Project @ Ravenscraig Park confirmed - delivery January 2023.

CPD delivered to Cathkin HS PE Department

October 2022

2nd CPD session for Stonelaw HS delivered.

28th May 2022

CPD delivered to Stonelaw HS and Lesmahagow HS.

Contact received from New PT @ Cathkin HS.

30th April 2022

Projects 62 and 63 completed with CPD delivered to 20+ Staff from a variety of Departments.

Great participation and interaction once again :)

23rd April 2022

Maps for Stonelaw, Trinity, Lesmahagow and Cathkin HSs due for delivery.

Kirknewton Project ongoing discussions underway.

CPDs for Bannerman and Trinity HSs in this coming week.


29th March 2022

Kirknewton Primary (West Lothian) and local park- confirmed as Project 66.

Lesmahagow HS project 65 underway.

Kirknewton Primary visited and options suggested.

Bannerman CPD rearranged for 28th April.

18th February 2022

Meetings held with PTPE @ Lesmahagow HS.

Meeting pending with Cathkin HS.

Bannerman HS's markers installed 12th February 2022.

CPDs for Stonelaw, Trinity and Cathkin HSs projected to May 2022.

17th January 2022

Bannerman HS Project given the green light.

Stonelaw HS progressing to map printing this week.

Trinity HS entering Phase 2.

Meeting with Cathkin HS pending

23rd December 2021

Markers installed at both Stonelaw and Trinity High Schools. Support materials now in preparation.

10th December 2021

Productive meetings with both PT @ Stonelaw HS and NLC/AC @ Strathclyde CP.

Stonelaw Project now underway with Trinity HS pending and Cathkin HS early in 2022.

Enquiry led by DoE @ Bannerman HS

21st November 2021

SLC has confirmed pilot project involving the 3 Secondary Schools in the Cambuslang/Rutherglen area - Stonelaw HS, Cathkin HS and Trinity HS.

Meeting held with Bannerman HS DoE Co-ordinator.
Meeting with NLC re. Clyde Park @ Strathclyde CP / Outdoor Activities Team pending.

Orienteering is known as “Cunning Running” & “The Thought Sport” where physical fitness & intellect have to combine to achieve success. Throughout SCOTTISH EDUCATION, the delivery of Learning Outcomes in Health & Well-Being is everyones responsibility & not just Physical Educationists!

Although our initial work focused on our sport as the catalyst, we are now exploring ways in which the many disciplines within the Physical Education Curriculum can be used to drive forward, augment and strengthen the work undertaken within the Mathematics Curriculum through the active health & learning approach. Further links with Science and Home Economics are also being actively researched.

Curriculum for Excellence

Terry O’Brien, BEM (retired PE Teacher),Bernie Lafferty (Mathematics) @ St.Ninian’s HS Kirkintilloch and Jim McCormack (retired Humanities PT) are pioneering not just how Orienteering can enhance the delivery of PE, Mathematics and Geography but also how other subjects can embrace the Outdoor Education Theme. Cross Curricular Projects or IDL (Inter Disciplinary Learning) using Orienteering as a catalyst are highly challenging and rewarding to all participants and not as daunting as it may seem at first glance.

Back in 2008 Terry masterminded the 1st IDL / Orienteering related project @ St.Thomas Aquinas Secondary to be followed a couple of years later by Jim's innovative project for Chryston HS - 'Picnic in The Park' based on linking school work with a day at Drumpellier CP.

What facilities are required?

An Orienteering map of your school campus, the installation of a permanent course with supplementary equipment to enhance the challenge, sets of maps & guidelines.

All these educational tools can be set up through STAG. We may undertake projects where the map has been produced by someone else but this shall be decided on a case by case basis.

ORIENTEERINGLASGOW

STAG’s successful Sports Lottery application to establish permanent facilities in all major Glasgow Parks provided a second level for Orienteering to take place. In 2003 in conjunction with Glasgow City Council Education Department a partnership was entered into to map all Schools within the City. Funding was however withdrawn in 2005 and the project remains incomplete.

Schools' Development

Despite this disappointment, STAG has continued to assist schools, mostly through the delivery of Orienteering via Physical Education by upgrading maps to full colour, installing permanent courses on site & creating teaching packs for the delivery of Core Physical Education.

  1. Cathkin High School, Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire.
  2. Coltness High School, Wishaw, North Lanarkshire. (School demolished).
  3. Chryston High School, Muirhead, North Lanarkshire. (School demolished).
  4. Lourdes Secondary, Glasgow.
  5. Notre Dame High School Glasgow.
  6. Rosshall Academy, Glasgow.
  7. St.Ninian's High School,, Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire.
  8. St.Paul's High School, Glasgow.
  9. St.Thomas Aquinas Secondary, Glasgow.
  10. St.Bridget's Primary, Baillieston, Glasgow.
  11. Bankhead Primary, Knightswood, Glasgow.
  12. Lochend Community HS, Easterhouse, Glasgow.
  13. Kirkshaws Primary, Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire - map produced only.
  14. Coatbridge High School, North Lanarkshire.
  15. John Paul Academy, Summerston, Glasgow.
  16. King's Park Secondary, Glasgow.
  17. Knightswood Secondary, Glasgow.
  18. Avenue End Primary, Glasgow.
  19. Mount Vernon Primary, Glasgow.
  20. Carmyle Primary School, Glasgow.
  21. Swinton Primary, Glasgow.
  22. St.Blane's Primary, Summerston, Glasgow.
  23. St.Mary's Primary Maryhill, Glasgow.,
  24. Cardinal Newman High School, Bellshill, North Lanarkshire.
  25. St.Aidan's Primary, Wishaw, North Lanarkshire.
  26. St.Ambrose High School, Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire. {MEGA 70 sites}.
  27. Thornlie Primary, Wishaw, North Lanarkshire
  28. St.Mary's RC Primary, Boness.
  29. Oakgrove Primary, Glasgow.
  30. Duncanrig Secondary, East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire. {MEGA 70 sites}.
  31. Eastmuir School, Barlanark, Glasgow.
  32. Taylor High School, Carfin, North Lanarkshire.
  33. St.Andrew's Secondary, Carntyne, Glasgow. {MEGA 70 sites}. CPD delivered.
  34. Calderhead High School, Shotts, North Lanarkshire. CPD delivered.
  35. St.Timothy's Primary, Greenfield, Glasgow G32. CPD delivered 2nd June 21.
  36. Firpark Secondary, Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. CPD delivered.
  37. King's Park Secondary, Glasgow refurbished and CPD delivered Sept 2020.
  38. Lochend Community High School - replacement of 5 markers.
  39. Bishopbriggs Academy, East Dunbartonshire. CPD delivered.
  40. Holy Cross Primary, Croy, North Lanarkshire. November 2020. CPD pending.
  41. John Paul Academy - +35 markers now a MEGA site. December 2020. CPD delivered.
  42. Hillpark Secondary, February 2021. Resources delivered. CPD pending.
  43. William McIlvanney Campus, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire in conjunction with LOST.
  44. St.Joseph's Academy, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire in conjunction with LOST.
  45. Stewarton Academy, East Ayrshire in conjunction with LOST.
  46. Lenzie Academy in conjunction with EDC Outdoor Education Services. March 2021. PC installed. Maps printed. CPD delivered 12th March 2021.
  47. Turnbull High School in conjunction with EDC Outdoor Education Services. March 2021. PC installed. Maps printed. CPD delivered 5th May 2021.
  48. Douglas Academy in conjunction with EDC Outdoor Education Services. March 2021. PC installed. Maps printed. CPD delivered 28th April 2021.
  49. Kirkintilloch High School in conjunction with EDC Outdoor Education Services. March 2021. PC installed. Maps printed. CPD delivered 16th June.
  50. Merkland School, Kirkintilloch in conjunction with EDC Outdoor Education Services. PC installed. Maps printed internally. CPD delivered 1st June 21.
  51. Grange Academy, Kilmarnock in conjunction with LOST. March 2021. PC checked. Maps in print via LOST.
  52. St.Ninian's High School, Kirkintilloch refresh in conjunction with EDC Outdoor Education Services. March 2021*. PC refreshed.
  53. Loudoun Academy, Galston in conjunction with LOST. April 2021*. Installation completed and checked. PDFs printed.
  54. Bearsden Academy in conjunction with EDC Outdoor Education Services. PC installed. Maps printed. CPD delivered 22 June.
  55. Lenzie Meadow Primary in conjunction with EDC Outdoor Education Services. PC installed. Maps now printed. CPD delivered 25 May.
  56. Barony Campus, Cumnock in conjunction with LOST. April 2021. PC installed. Maps printed.
  57. Gairloch High School, Highland Region. Map surveyed and PC installed Thurs 29th April. Support materials now supplied.
  58. Greenfaulds High School, Cumbernauld. Maps printed. CPD delivered 13 Aug.
  59. St.Andrew's HS Coatbridge. Map surveyed. Markers installed. CPD delivered October 2021.
  60. Glencryan School, Cumbernauld. Map completed. Large markers installed. Mini-markers delivered. Project completed. Bespoke no CPD relevant.
  61. Stonelaw High School, Rutherglen - CPD delivered May 2022.
  62. Trinity High School, Cambuslang - CPD delivered 29th April.
  63. Bannerman High School - CPD delivered 28th April.
  64. Cathkin High School, Whitlawburn - Delivery of maps and CPD pending.
  65. Lesmahagow HS - CPD delivered May 2022.
  66. Ravenscraig Park for DoE North Lanarkshire*

* In preparation.

Discussions are ongoing with East Dunbartonshire Council Outdoor Education Services and East Ayrshire Council's 'Learning Outdoor Support Team' on how our partnerships can be further enhanced. Contact has also been made with The Scottish Advisory Panel On Outdoor Education (SAPOE) and The Scottish Physical Education Association (SPEA) to take this venture forward.

South Lanarkshire Council's Education Department have initiated a pilot project in Cambuslang and Rutherglen covering Stonelaw, Trinity and Cathkin High Schools. Lesmahagow HS also inveted in STAG resources to offer Orienteering as an option.

We are also assisting TAYSIDE ORIENTEERS with their Strathearn Schools Project.