DELIGHTED pupils and staff took delivery of a batch of scientific calculators, as their school became the first to benefit from a scheme launched by accountancy firm JF Hornby & Co.
Managing Director Paul Hornby visited Ulverston Victoria High School to hand the equipment over, as the Hornby Calculator Club officially sprang into action.
The scheme is designed to help ensure no secondary school pupil is disadvantaged in GCSE maths because they do not have access to the equipment needed.
Paul, a former pupil of UVHS, said: “A lot has changed since I first walked through the doors at The Vic many years ago, but one thing has not – the absolute importance of pupils having the learning tools they need to succeed.
“The Hornby Calculator Club aims to ensure that is the case, by creating a bank of equipment that can be loaned to pupils in participating schools whenever needed.”
Delighted: Head of Maths, Jessica Twyford and Hornby’s MD, Paul Hornby, with pupils from UVHS
The initiative is being funded through the Hornby Foundation, which has committed £4,500 to the project as part of its wider mission to support opportunities for young people and strengthen local communities.
Schools taking part in the scheme will receive a stock of calculators that can be kept on site and loaned out to pupils throughout the academic year, helping to remove a practical barrier to learning and exam preparation.
The project was developed following conversations with teachers about the challenges faced by some families and the pressures on school budgets.
The Calculator Club builds on JF Hornby & Co’s ongoing commitment to education through the Hornby Money Club, which has delivered financial education sessions to primary and secondary school pupils across the region since 2021.
Jessica Twyford, Head of Maths at Ulverston Victoria High School, said: “We are extremely grateful to Paul and the Hornby Foundation for supporting the school in this way.
“Having access to the right equipment can make a significant difference to a pupil’s confidence and ability to engage fully in lessons and examinations. While a scientific calculator might seem like a small thing, it is an essential tool in secondary maths education.
“The Calculator Club will help ensure that all of our pupils have access to the resources they need to succeed, regardless of their circumstances, and that is something we warmly welcome.”
Paul added: “The communities of Furness have been fundamental to the success of JF Hornby & Co over the years, and we have always given back when we can.
“I’m really happy to be in a position to help our local schools at a time when budgets are becoming increasingly stretched and many families are facing financial pressures of their own.
“We hope the Calculator Club will make a real difference, however small, by ensuring every young person has access to the equipment they need to learn with confidence, prepare for exams and achieve their potential.”
