I have need for work for some reasonably accurate mapping, of school grounds, to calculate areas of habitat and surface type.

Freemaptools uses google data and images, and they are out of date compared to OSM and OS.

Both Open Street Map and OS GetaMap have (just) enough resolution.

Can anyone suggest a site or programme that has tools to measure area?

always used promap when I was doing proper chartered surveying stuff

http://www.promap.co.uk/

You get access to higher scale mapping, and can use their redline polygon tool for outlines and area measurements

Global Mapper?

EDIT: Yep, you can add polygons and get the area etc, eg Downtown Chicago:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/oWbp1w]Test[/url] by brf, on Flickr

there’s also tools linked to through the planning portal

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/planning/applications/plans

SOme of them with boundary tools can probably do area measurements too.

quantum GIS might do what you need and its free

Qgis and openlayers plugin for aerial imagery

Magic, or as Stoner Says, Promap are the best we use..

http://www.magic.gov.uk/

Cheers, on it and sorting which one to go for. It needs to be accessible to colleagues and teachers in schools.

In that case I think you can do it in KML on Google Earth. somthing like this:
https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/earth/F_x3rwWP9bU

Have you looked at digimap for schools?

Quantum and open layers is good but a bit of a learning curve.
Magic will be shite for Scotland
I’d suggest speaking to SNH (Inverness office) and see if their GI techies can help.

Ebygomm – yes, looked at digital, it doesn’t offer the resolution we needed. Planning portal type detail, ideally with satellite imaging is perfect.

Digimap for Schools gives you access to Ordnance Survey MasterMap, which is the most detailed level mapping available and allows you to measure length and area. No aerial photography, though.