Coronavirus: Peterborough schools create visors for NHS staff

Pupils and teachers at Jack Hunt School in Netherton and Ormiston Bushfield Academy have all made the goggles which have been warmly received.

JacK Hunt headteacher Pamela Kilbey said of her team: “I thought they were just going to look at the materials we have in stock and get back to me about what was possible. By the end of the day they had made 61 visors and a representative from Peterborough hospital procurement services had collected them by 5.30pm.

“This is an absolutely amazing effort from the Design Technology team and especially Adrian Hargreaves, Bec Evans and Mary Loveridge. The hospital are going to come back to us about whether they need more visors and, if so, any amendments we can make to the design.

“We are so proud of the team and so immensely grateful to be able to give this support to the amazing staff in the National Health Service. You are our heroes. We are in awe of the work you are doing and the courage you are showing; as a community we wish to thank every single one of you.”

Ormiston Bushfield Academy associate assistant principal Rebecca Rhodes and special educational needs coordinator Jamie Jones used devices and materials at the school, which would usually be used for Design and Technology lessons, to produce the protective visors.

The pair have already produced 50 visors between them and are planning to produce more in the coming days. Once produced, the visors are collected by a medical procurement company and then delivered to medical practices across the city.

Academy principal Dennis Kirwan said: “Everyone within our school community wants to do what they can to help combat the coronavirus crisis. We are using the skills and materials we already have to assist the incredible medical staff who are out there on the front line, saving lives every day.

“The way we’re going to tackle this crisis is by all pulling together, and it’s been great to see our school contributing in such a positive and innovative way to the national and local response so far.”

Peterborough City Hospital has also posted on social media thanking The Deepings School for donating goggles and masks.

It wrote on Facebook: “Mr Jessop, from The Deepings School, came in to bring goggles and masks from their science department for staff to use as part of their personal protective equipment. Thank you very much for thinking of us!”