The James Kane Foundation has provided a grant to Larne High School to purchase a CNC Router, expanding the Technology & Design department’s resources and giving pupils greater experience of computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM).
The new equipment will allow pupils to develop practical skills that reflect the technology and manufacturing processes used in the workplace, while widening the scope of projects they can undertake at GCSE and A Level.
The school currently has one laser cutter, which can be heavily used during examination periods, but does not have a CNC router. This limits opportunities for pupils to produce 3D designs in wood and means that some PCB designs currently rely on an older chemical-based process which is costly to maintain and increasingly difficult to source the required materials for.
The CNC Router will provide a more flexible and relevant way for pupils to develop their designs and gain practical experience of modern manufacturing technology.
Around 40 GCSE pupils will use the CAD equipment, while 24 post-16 pupils studying A Level Technology & Design and Level 3 BTEC Engineering will use the CNC machine as part of their CAD/CAM learning. The school also plans to restart its CAD Club for KS3 pupils, with a target of around 15 pupils taking part each week.
Larne High School is committed to giving pupils opportunities to understand how the skills they develop in school relate to the workplace. Through visits to local companies, including Ryobi, pupils have already seen CNC technology being used in industry. Having similar equipment within the school will allow them to develop relevant skills and experience themselves.
The project will give pupils additional knowledge of CAD/CAM, practical manufacturing experience and the opportunity to work with technology they may encounter in future education, training and employment. For young people in the Larne area, the school hopes this will help broaden their opportunities and support them to reach their potential.
Principal, Dr Stephen Reid, said
“We are deeply grateful to The James Kane Foundation for its generous support of Larne High School through this award of over £25,000 for a CNC router and other essential equipment. This state-of-the-art investment will give our pupils valuable opportunities to develop modern technological and engineering skills, while also helping us raise the profile of these important subject areas across the school. In a community where many of our young people face significant economic disadvantage, this support is especially meaningful and will make a lasting difference to their learning, confidence and future aspirations.”