Facilities | Ferntech

The Computing & Robotics Centre

Unrivalled Facilities

Over the past four years we have heavily invested in our digital technology facilities. £1.5 million of investment up to Sept 2022 will provide 7 fully equipped digital education spaces, in which we deliver all our computing courses. This includes our new Digital Education Building set for completion by Autumn 2022. No department locally has such excellent resources for educating young people in digital.

Specialist Labs for a Digital Future

Our specialist labs are named in honour of digital technology missions that have extended human understanding of the universe. Each one is specially designed and equipped to provide the optimal environment for digital teaching and learning.

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Two 32 seater physical computing labs created with a £100,000 grant from the Wolfson Foundation in 2020.

Created in 2021 with support from the John Thornton Foundation, a 26 seater multipurpose Raspberry Pi Network and Electronic Engineering Lab

A 32 seater graphical engineering lab with HD screens and high spec machine, first opened in 2019 is used by our Media Department.

Specialist server room that supports our own on-site servers and cloud-computing capability. Students will have access to this room to develop skills in digital infrastructure design and management. It will also enable aspects of our networking and cybersecurity curriculum to be delivered in a more practical context.

Created in 2019, the Voyager Lab is a purpose built specialist lab packed full of up to date tech including:

Class sets of Raspberry Pi Computers with touchscreens and wall-mounted screens
Our own private Pi-Net Network allowing students to work collaboratively
3D printing facilities
A full class set of LEGO® Mindstorm EV3 Robot Kits
Full electrical engineering equipment and breakout boards, including a wide range of sensors, inputs and other components

Two identical industry standard software development and digital infrastructure lab (SDDI Labs). Each will provide up to 30 students with the latest hi-spec machines and MacBook with access to windows and linux operating systems via Raspberry Pis

These rooms will be supported by our own on-site cloud servers to provide students with high computing power and wide-ranging capabilities.

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Set to open in 2022, the Pioneer Suite will be a purpose built 70-80 seminar space with digital device support including student kitchen facilities, for self study and large group teaching

New Digital Education Building for 2022

Designed for the Digital Age

Pioneer Seminar Suite

For up to 80 students with digital device support for laptops provided to our Digital T Level students, access to kitchen facilities for students and a new computing office.

Ingenuity Software Development Lab

With top spec computers, our own servers and support for all major operating systems including Mac OS, Windows and Linux

Part of our Phase 2 Developments, the new building extends our facilities beyond anything else offered locally, to enable training of software developers and digital support specialists with up to date industry standard hardware and software. A professional environment to nurture a new generation of digital professionals.

Raspberry Pi & Electronic Engineering Suite

The Voyager Lab is a purpose built specialist lab packed full of up to date tech including:

Class sets of Raspberry Pi Computers with touchscreens and wall-mounted screens
Our own private Pi-Net Network allowing students to work collaboratively
3D printing facilities
A full class set of LEGO® Mindstorm EV3 Robot Kits
Full electrical engineering equipment and breakout boards, including a wide range of sensors, inputs and other components