Gordon Maps Out Palatine Murder Mystery
Gordon joined Palatine College pupils as they turned sleuths in a local murder mystery, with the aid of a bundle of clues and Ordnance Survey maps.
The whodunit exercise was part of Gordon’s visit to the college to promote the ‘Free Maps for 11-year olds’ initiative from Ordnance Survey. This equips Year 7 pupils across Blackpool with maps in an initiative to expand their sense of place and land geography as part of a broader citizenship programme.
At Palatine geography teacher Emma Wood had set up a lesson for pupils to use their OS Maps to interpret clues in a hypothetical murder, modelled on the way in which police forces use OS Maps and other geographical aids as part of a crime investigation.
Gordon said ‘it was a very enjoyable and imaginative exercise, which all the Palatine pupils seemed to relish, with the serious objective of testing how they have learnt to use and interpret OS maps since they were received in the autumn. Nine schools across Blackpool have benefited from receiving nearly 1100 free OS maps this year and I really commend Ordnance Survey for their continuing commitment to this initiative.
As someone who in Parliament has argued long and hard on educational enquiries for study tools that strengthen children’s sense of time and place, I’m delighted to endorse projects such as this which make learning and acquiring such skills enjoyable.’
Gordon also congratulated Palatine head Chris Powell on the College’s success with its recent GCSE results which showed double digit percentage increases for success in Maths and English compared with their 2008 results.
‘I’m delighted Palatine has had its hard work rewarded with academic results that complement its strong community programme including sports summer schools and the performing arts charity fundraiser put on by students which earned them a Heroes in the Community Award.’
