A SECONDARY school in Barry has set up a personal protective equipment (PPE) production-line to assist key workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Staff in Whitmore High School’s design technology department (DT) has so far produced hundreds of visors – or face shields or masks – which have been distributed to care homes and hospitals in the Cardiff & Vale area.

Pupils are currently home-schooling while DT head of department Allen Fitzpatrick, Ian Hawkins, Mark Currie, and John Paine work in school.

Whitmore High School assistant head teacher and raising standards KS4 wellbeing and attainment, Mark Kennedy said: “This is all part of the wider Whitmore High School community and we are all stakeholders.

“We must make an impact to help everyone.

“The DT department have also been innovative and produced a face mask strain relief bracket that is attached to the back of a face mask.

“This reduces strain on face and more importantly the ears.”

Mr Kennedy said: “Our DT department have been incredible and produced over 300 units in a short space of time.

Two hundred shields/masks and 200 face mask strain relief brackets were distributed to Heath Hospital B3 - intensive care unit at the Heath.

"Also, PPE masks were delivered to Barry Hospital, Cartref Perthceri Nursing Home, and College Fields Nursing Home.

“The need is clearly massive in the nursing homes in Barry.

“I intend to deliver a further 200 this week to the nursing homes and whereever else they are needed.

“And we are waiting to hear back from the Dragon’s Heart Hospital regarding the quantity of uptake of the face Mask Strain Relief Bracket.

“Our mission statement at Whitmore is simply on Twitter #resilient #WHS2020 #JustKeepCheckingIn #WHSWAY

“Our #JustKeepCheckingIn is our way of checking on each other in our community.”