Arden Supporting the NHS and Carers
OVER 1500 VISORS MANUFACTURED BY DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY TEACHERS
James Reed and other Design and Technology colleagues were concerned about the shortage of PPE equipment in the health service and he noticed a couple of weeks ago on some D&T Facebook groups a couple of schools making visors. He searched around and found the best and most efficient design was from Kitronik.
James was in school during the Easter holidays supporting learning and school activities for key worker children and decided to see if it was possible using the DT’s laser cutter. The key worker students worked with James and it was a success!
James then contacted other colleagues at Arden - Andy Eades and Lesley Hayward. They began the assembly production line and within three days had made over 200 visors. We started running out of the raw materials and I contacted Liz Maloney Chair of Governors at St George and Teresa School in Knowle who runs the plastics company Kenfield Limited. Within days the polypropylene arrived shortly followed by more acetate sheets.
Production is now well over 600 with a target of over 1500 over the next week with more teachers joining the production line. We are now also looking at producing protective gowns.
We have distributed the face visors to local GP’s, Warwick and Solihull hospitals, medical groups, care homes and to medical staff at a prison. These groups have been delighted since they are facing a massive shortage.
This has been a wonderful example of a school community and local business volunteering and supporting our Carers and the NHS.
There are some 200 schools involved across the country who have through their Design and Technology Teams manufactured and donated over 150,000 items of PPE.
Martin Murphy
17th April 2020
CEO Arden Multi Academy Trust
