Arran high pupils inspired to get digitally creative
A group of tech-savvy North Ayrshire pupils were left inspired after attending the BBC studios for a masterclass with Minecraft developer, Chris van der Kuyl.
The pupils from Arran High School joined the games tycoon earlier this month at a special event for the BBC’s ‘Make it Digital’ initiative which aims to get the nation excited about digital creativity. The group of 20 North Ayrshire youngsters – from Arran and Garnock Academy, all with a passion for digital technology – accepted an invitation from the BBC to take part in a small audience at Chris’ masterclass which was broadcast live via webcast to 1,100 schools across the UK.
Mr van der Kuyl is considered one of Scotland’s top entrepreneurs, leading the way in the video games industry. The purpose of his masterclass was to raise awareness of the support available to youngsters interested in digital creativity and inspire the next generation of digital entrepreneurs.
And he has certainly left a lasting impression on the group from North Ayrshire.
Speaking about the event, Fiona Rennie from Arran High said: ‘The trip was just amazing. The talks and presentations from Chris and the other entrepreneurs have inspired me to achieve my goals.’
After the webcast, the pupils were then given the opportunity to grill a panel of digital entrepreneurs during a question and answer workshop, as well as get their hands on some of the latest technology - the Occulus Rift and Google Cardboard.
Cabinet member for education attainment and achievement, Councillor John Bruce, said: ‘Scotland is highly regarded when it comes to the digital games industry – and rightly so.
‘As the industry booms, so does the employment opportunities and that’s why I’m so glad to hear that the successful contributors to our country’s acclaim are passing their skills onto the next generation. The pupils seemed to have really enjoyed the experience and I hope it highlights the possibilities that lay ahead of them.’