Staff at Carrick Academy have been making use of their dormant classrooms to produce much-needed personal protective equipment for the NHS.

The design and technology department at the academy has been transformed into a production factory for visors, with members of staff getting to work to produce them.

Head teacher Shona Stevens, science technician Shirley Connor and design and technology teacher John Allen have been working hard to produce 350 visors so far.

John Allen said: “I noticed on Twitter that other schools around the country were producing visors and realised that we had both the equipment and materials to help.

“Personally, it felt like it was the least I could do. Health care workers are putting their lives on the line so anything we can do to make their jobs even a little bit safer is a no-brainer.

“We are using school resources and just yesterday (Tuesday) got a delivery of plastic so we can continue to make visors (although our laser is on its last legs!)

“We have made about 350 so far and have enough materials to make about another 500 (laser permitting). We have supplied a cross section of care workers from Girvan to Glasgow.”

So far the academy has sent their equipment to Crosshouse, Ayr and the QEUH hospitalsd.

They’ve also shared their design with Marr College in Troon, who are also in the process of making visors.

Staff at the QEUH, pictured with the visors, thanked the “fantastic” efforts of the school, adding: “Thanks for keeping us safe.”

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