Shop floor challenge builds new links between the AMRC Training Centre and local schools

Teachers from across the Sheffield region have taken to the shop floor under the watchful eye of AMRC Training Centre apprentices, to mark National Apprenticeship Week.

A dozen teachers tackled a ‘Design to Manufacture challenge, making components by hand with nothing more than an engineering drawing and the advice of an apprentice to guide them.

The day was designed to help teachers give pupils a better idea about the opportunities for advanced manufacturing apprentices and has opened the way to closer contacts between the Training Centre and schools.

“We want to bring our computer and engineering students down here and develop more links with the AMRC,” said David Kavanagh, head of computing at King Edward VII School, Sheffield.

“Im a frustrated engineer, so Im really enjoying this. Its fantastic and I am going to ask the guys here to talk to our year 10 and 11 students.

“Our engineering department is very strong and we have got lots of students who are really into engineering.”

Davids mentor, Rowan Easter-Robinson, said his charge had taken to it “Like a duck to water,” but had been a little over-enthusiastic and managed to hacksaw a bit too far into his workpiece.

“Well have to find a way to recoup the metal!” added Rowan.

Careers teacher Catherine Price, from Whittington Green School, in Chesterfield, which has some students starting at the AMRC Training Centre later this year, admitted to being “an engineering novice.”

However, mentor James Bayard, an apprentice with Mastercut Cutting Systems, was well impressed.

“Shes doing really well,” said James. “Shes the furthest ahead of all the teachers in the ‘Design to Manufacture challenge.”

Adrian Dulley, from Sheffields University Technical College, praised the commitment of the apprentices.

“The AMRC Training Centre is very impressive and the apprentices are very enthusiastic about what they are doing,” said Adrian.“They say they really enjoy it because it is different from school, much more ‘hands on and practically based.”

Design Technology teacher Carlo Foletti from St Marys Catholic High School in Chesterfield, was enjoying the novel experience of being taught - by apprentice Sam Brookfield from Mollart Cox Engineering - rather than teaching.

“Its nice to be taught by someone that I could have taught. This is a totally different experience from my usual day,” he said.

Picture Captions

Teachers Back to the Floor day 1: Adrian Dully from UTC Sheffield (right) and Tata Steel apprentice Liam Dawson, from the AMRC Training Centre.

Teachers Back to the Floor day 2: Design Technology teacher Carlo Foletti from St Martys Catholic High School in Chesterfield, right, with apprentice Sam Brookfield, from Mollart Cox Engineering.

Teachers Back to the Floor day 3: Careers teacher Catherine Price, from Whittington Green School, in Chesterfield, with apprentice James Byard, from Mastercut Cutting Systems