Unchanged for over 20 years and in need of full modernisation, St. Martins School approached WF Education to bring their tired and dated D&T workshop back to life as the first step to creating a new contemporary STEM space.
The introduction of mobile Akira™ workbenches, machinery and storage offered the department a unique and unrivalled benefit that enables staff and students to switch between activities and layouts quickly and easily – aligning perfectly to the department’s dynamic and varied schedules. Other options were considered but nothing else available matched the flexible solution that the Akira™ range provides.
The refurbishment included new Akira™ Machinery WorkBenches – a double drill bench, two with a bandfacer and a Hegner scrollsaw – replacing the old and heavy machines. Combining five Akira™ Workbench Elite and four Akira™ WorkBench Standard with legacy fixed workbenches created a fresh new workshop but ensured the project kept within budget.
”The Akira™ system has enabled different teaching staff to rearrange the classroom quickly and easily for different key stage lessons ranging from key stage 2 – key stage 4. The flexibility to move the equipment based on the activities students are doing, has already proven beneficial and provided a much safer, less cluttered work area”.
The new workbenches and the addition of the Akira™ Store provides the workshop with a neat and tidy space for machinery and equipment, and the ability to switch between resistant materials, CAD/CAM electronics, robotics, and textiles, quickly and efficiently which was impossible in their previous static space.
The level of autonomy over layout, storage, and activities has given their new D&T teacher full ownership of their workshop and the ability to rearrange the furniture on the fly as required.
Akira™ products are designed and manufactured by WF Education in the UK which resulted in a 6-week lead time. From inquiry to design consultation to delivery and installation, the project was delivered smoothly, within budget, and installed in just one day!
The new workshop now offers a truly flexible space, perfectly aligned for teaching a varied D&T curriculum, fully supporting the current and future vision of the department and is now a futureproofed practical teaching space.
“The room looks great thank you, such a difference and I think we have achieved a lot with a relatively low budget. The space now offers a fantastic blend of traditional and modern machinery. The room functions as a traditional classroom environment and workshop seamlessly.
Students from Key Stages 2-4 can now use the equipment independently and with confidence. The new equipment is accessible and easy to use. Students are keen to design and make a fantastic array of products as the new equipment has re-sparked their interest in the subject. From initial meetings to the final installation all communication was informative and prompt.
We are thrilled with the final results and very excited to start making with our students”
Stella Ellis, Head of D&T
St. Martins School, Oswestry.
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