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Printing in three dimensions might sound like magic, but at a pioneering primary school in Bury, pupils as young as seven are learning how to do it.
Companies across many industries are increasingly using 3D printing, which is why this skill is said to be ‘critical’ for the next generation. Rachel Ellison, who is the computing lead at St. Joseph and St. Bede R.C. Primary School, said that learning these skills at a young age could be life-changing.
Last year, she signed up for 3D 360’s free 3D printing course, fully funded by Greater Manchester’s Skills for Growth programme. “It blew my mind,” she recalled.
Since then, she has set up an afterschool club where children in Year 3 and 4 make key rings and counters using the 3D printers provided by the course. Immediately oversubscribed, Rachel and her colleague Sinead now hope that the skills learnt at the club can be taught as part of the school’s curriculum.
“We just want them to be excited to do something and give them the cutting edge to do it well,” Rachel explained. “And the children absolutely love it.”
Rachel is just one of more than 10,000 people in Greater Manchester who have taken part in these courses which aim to fill skills gap in the local jobs market. Since the programme launched in 2020, 3D 360 has launched its 3D Printing and Industry 4.0 Skills Bootcamps across Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Lancashire, Merseyside and Cumbria.
We offer fully funded Skills Bootcamps for school staff at no cost. The training is designed for staff of all abilities and covers 3D printing, 3D CAD, robotics, AI, cyber security, AR/VR and more. This programme builds teacher confidence and strengthens classroom practice with clear links to Computing, Design and Technology, Science and Maths. It also aligns with current DWP curriculum priorities around digital skills and engineering.
With great success, our partner schools, MATs and youth provisions have also used the training to establish STEM clubs, embed practical projects, and inspire pupils towards pathways in engineering, manufacturing, construction, digital, creative media and more.
Places go quickly, so register your interest or request a call back to find out more.
