This is now the 5th month since I began mapping schools as something useful to do during this wretched Covid-19 Lockdown period. 1,000s of schools updated with both Address & Contacts tags, and still I’m having problems with the Operator tag (the second item in the Preset).

Shortly after starting the mapping I got (rightly) slapped around the face by someone butt-hurt because I had wrongly mapped a school Operator that he had previously mapped, but he could not tell me the correct operator for that school anymore than I could tell it. Clearly, I should have left it blank rather than guessing. I thought in my innocence that, after some more experience, I would learn to know where to find the school operator. That hasn’t really happened. Hence this Diary entry.

These are the types of schools that I’ve currently come across (below), plus my best estimate of the operator to use. Do not hesitate to pitch in if you believe me to be wrong or know the operator:–

1. Academy converter
   (possibly with an Academy sponsor)
    
   If an Academy sponsor then https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:operator='Academy sponsor'
   else https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:operator=''
    
2. Academy special converter
   (possibly with a trust)
    
   If a trust then https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:operator='trust'
   else https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:operator=''
    
3. Academy sponsor led
   (should be an Academy sponsor)
    
   If an Academy sponsor then https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:operator='Academy sponsor'
   else https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:operator=''
    
4. Community School
    
   Use https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:operator='name-of-Local-authority'
    
5. Community School
   (with a Federation)
    
   Use https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:operator='Federation'
    
6. Community special school
    
   Use https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:operator=''
    
7. Foundation school
   (possibly with a trust)
    
   If a trust then https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:operator='trust'
   else https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:operator=''
    
8. Further education
    
   Use https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:operator='name-of-Local-authority'
    
9. Pupil referral unit
    
   Use https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:operator='name-of-Local-authority'
    
10. Voluntary aided school
     
    Use https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:operator=''
     
11. Voluntary controlled school
    (possibly with a Federation)
     
    If a Federation then https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:operator='Federation'
    else https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:operator=''

In all the schools that I’ve mapped, using the UK Government schools service site, I’ve come across just one school that contained an “Operator” field. Not helpful!