Orienteering

Orienteering is an exciting alternative to traditional school sports, bringing PE, Geography and Maths skills together while getting young people outdoors!

Participants use a map to navigate between checkpoints, making decisions about routes and developing their physical and problem-solving skills along the way. Activities can be delivered individually, in teams, or as a relay.

Orienteering is a great leveller: some participants may excel physically, while others may thrive at map-reading and navigation. This makes it a great opportunity for teamwork, communication, and leadership, while helping young people build confidence and enjoy learning beyond the classroom.

School Games Orienteering formats can be adapted to suit different spaces, from a sports hall to a large outdoor area. They can also be adapted to meet different needs, including SEND requirements, making Orienteering accessible to a wide range of schools.

Formats range from traditional outdoor courses, where participants navigate between a series of controls, to smaller maze-style activities that can be delivered in more compact spaces. Schools can also set up virtual or permanent Orienteering courses within their grounds.

Primary formats

Counting Cones

Counting Cones provides an introduction to Orienteering, helping pupils develop basic navigation and physical activity skills through a fun, accessible format. Pupils can practise running with pace and stamina, map-reading, symbol recognition, and numeracy while working together as a team.

Score Course

The Score Course builds on these introductory skills, giving pupils a map and a set amount of time to visit as many controls as possible. Pupils must make decisions about which controls to visit and plan their route, developing navigation, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. The format can be adapted to suit different spaces, from a netball court to larger outdoor areas.

Traditional Course

The Traditional Course challenges pupils to visit a series of controls in a specific order, using a map to navigate around the course. Alongside physical activity, the format develops map-reading, concentration, route planning, and decision-making. It encourages teamwork, communication, and perseverance while helping pupils build confidence as they navigate the course.

Secondary formats

Score Competition

The Score Competition challenges participants to visit as many controls as possible within a set time. Participants must balance speed with strategic decision-making, choosing which controls to visit, and planning an effective route. The format develops independence, resilience, problem-solving, and teamwork, while offering opportunities for both recreational participation and competition.

Traditional Course

The Traditional Course is a classic Orienteering format in which participants navigate between a series of controls in a specific order. Success depends on more than physical fitness, with map-reading, concentration, and route planning all playing an important role. The format supports the development of independence, confidence, resilience, and decision-making skills.

Flexible formats

Both Secondary formats can be adapted to suit the space available and the needs of participants. Courses can use a small area, with a traditional course designed in a maze-style layout, or a larger area with more controls to increase the challenge. Courses can also be varied each time they are delivered, so the same space can provide a different challenge from one event to the next.

Equipment needed

• Maps
• Answer sheets
• Cones
• A suitable space (school hall, playground, field)

For Orienteering resources and equipment, visit the British Orienteering Schools Resources and Equipment shop.