Design teachers from two Northampton schools creating equipment for frontline staff during pandemic

Two schools in Northampton are helping to fight against the coronavirus pandemic by making protective equipment for frontline staff.

Three design technology teachers from Moulton School and one from Northampton School for Boys are using the time while the schools are partially closed to create face shields and safety visors.

The equipment will then be donated to hospitals, care homes, chemists or other care services.

The team at Moulton School hopes to make 100 face shields to help the local community fight the pandemic.

A spokeswoman for the school said: “Three of our dedicated design technology teachers (Mrs Malone, Mr Harrison and Mr Swainson) are coming into school specifically to make face shields for local chemists, care homes and other care services.

“They received an approved template from the Design Technology Association and got working with their laser cutter. It is lovely to see the team wanting to make a difference in the local community.

“The aim is for over 100 to be made and distributed in the community.”

Mark Samples, who is the head of design technology at Northampton School for Boys, has also been dedicating his time to creating ‘a steady flow’ safety visors for care professionals, by running the school’s 3D printer for 16 hours a day.

In addition to the visors, the school has also donated 300 pairs of its safety goggles.

Matthew Edwards, Senior Deputy Head said: "We were thrilled that we could donate over 300 safety goggles from our Science department to the hospital and that we are able to provide a supply of face masks at this difficult time.

“We know that in the current climate it is difficult to get a steady supply of suitable personal protective equipment and as we are unclear when we may be returning to school we felt it was a far better use of our equipment.

“The NHS and all care professionals are doing an amazing job in such challenging circumstances at the moment and I would urge other schools across the county and country to help in the same way if they are able to.”

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