It is one of the most cutting edge pieces of technology and soon children as young as five will be getting their hands on it.

Ipswich Star: Pupils from Holbrook Primary School got to design items that were then made into 3D prints.Pupils from Holbrook Primary School got to design items that were then made into 3D prints.

Holbrook Primary School is raising money to buy a 3D printer – and some pupils already have a taste of what one can do.

The school took four pupils to Brazil last summer for a programming competition and computing coordinator Richard Williams contacted 3D printing company My Mini Factory to ask if it would make the team a mascot.

Now the school has teamed up with the company again to let 45 children have their own designs printed.

“We have done it as a test opportunity to see if it is possible for primary school children to make their own 3D designs,” Mr Williams said.

“It has been incredible because this is something that has only just come into industry and it is becoming possible for normal people to use the software.

“The children have really enjoyed it. It is like building something out of clay but using a computer.”

After the five to 11-year-olds learnt to use the software their designs were sent to the printer and the finished products arrived this week.

Mr Williams added: “They have been asking me ‘When are the designs coming?’ for weeks.

“They are so proud of what they have achieved because most of them understand what a special opportunity this is.”

A special assembly was held yesterday when the children were given their objects to take home.

Mr Williams said Holbrook is now looking at getting its own 3D printer. If it does he believes it will be the first primary school in the country to have one.

It would come at half the £1,200 asking price thanks to an initiative from My Mini Factory to provide the printers at cut prices for schools.

“We can put it on our computing and design technology curriculum and once we have got it up and running we could open it up to the local community,” Mr Williams said.

“We have links with a school in Australia which is very good with 3D printing and a school in New York State is very interested in collaborating in the future.”

The money will be raised through corporate sponsorship and events like non-school uniform days. Mr Williams hopes it could be purchased and at the school by Easter.