Shortlees Primary School Community Workshop
Project overview
Cutwood Joinery delivered a hands-on community workshop for Shortlees Primary School, Kilmarnock, introducing P5 pupils to the basics of joinery. Led by Oscar and Kris, the session took pupils from safety briefing to measuring, marking out, cutting, fixing and finishing—culminating in three robust timber planters built entirely by the groups.
Skills day overview
Cutwood Joinery delivered a hands-on community workshop for Shortlees Primary School, Kilmarnock, introducing P5 pupils to the basics of joinery. Led by Oscar and Kris, the session took pupils from safety briefing to measuring, marking out, cutting, fixing and finishing, culminating in three robust timber planters built entirely by the groups.
Session highlights
We set up a safe outdoor workspace with clearly defined stations and tools. Pupils rotated roles—measurer, marker, fixer and checker—so everyone handled each stage of the build. Our team demonstrated best practice on tool control and teamwork, then coached the pupils to assemble planters from scratch. The result: 3 planters completed in 4 hours, big smiles, and a real sense of achievement.
Thanks & community impact
Huge credit to the pupils for their focus and enthusiasm, and a special thanks to Heather and the school staff for their support throughout the day. It was a privilege to share our craft with such a talented group and to help spark interest in practical skills and future trades careers.
Learning outcomes
- Measuring & materials handling — reading a tape, marking square, selecting fixings
- Workplace safety — PPE, safe zones, supervised tool use and tidy work areas
- Introduction to basic power tools — drills/drivers with guidance and supervision
- Teamwork & collaboration — role rotation, buddy checks, shared responsibility
- Communication & visualisation — interpreting a simple plan into a finished build
What we built
- Three timber planters sized for the school garden
- Pre-cut components, pilot-drilled and assembled by pupils
- Sanded edges and flush fixings for safe classroom handling
Credits
Oscar • Kris • Shortlees Primary School staff & pupils • Cutwood Joinery vans/tools & site setup
If your school or community group would like a joinery skills workshop, get in touch—we can tailor a safe, age-appropriate session with a useful finished piece for your grounds.
