A WEST Oxfordshire school is doing its bit to ensure NHS staff in the county are protected from the coronavirus whilst at work.

Bartholomew School in Eynsham has been making masks and visors for a range of care providers in the region.

The school is currently only open to children of key workers but that has not stopped headteacher Craig Thomas, and staff and pupils, from firing up the 2D laser printer and putting it to good use.

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Mr Thomas said: “My design and technology team has been making visors for local NHS providers.

“Just like the rest of the country, we’ve been moved by the lack of PPE for NHS staff.

“We’ve got a 2D laser printer and we’ve used our supplies to make masks.”

These masks have then been delivered by Mr Thomas himself to places in need such as Churchfields care home in Cassington, Oaken Holt care home, Cumnor, and the Warneford hospital, Headington.

“It’s really nice that we’ve been able to play our part and supply these local places,” added Mr Thomas.

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“All the NHS staff have been so grateful towards us.

“As long as you’ve got a design and the equipment and materials, you can make as many as you like.”

Mr Thomas estimates that with the current stock of materials, the school can produce between 50 and 100 visors a day.

To help the school kick on and make more, he said the school requires a supply of translucent polypropylene.

Mr Thomas has therefore took to social media to seek the public’s support with the work it is doing.

The headteacher said that social media can be ‘great in times like this.’

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Usually, the laser printer is used by students to assist them with coursework and can be utilised to create a range of products, including lamps, clocks and thermometers.

Mr Thomas said that in fact the printer can create ‘anything that can be programmed on the computer’.

The printer works by copying the design on the computer and, produces a 2D version.

Mr Thomas also praised the school’s head of design and technology, Tim Nash.

He said: “An enormous amount of credit needs to be given to our head of design and technology, Tim Nash.

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“Tim and his team have worked incredibly hard to produce a large number of visors in a short period of time.

“Tim epitomises the values of Bartholomew School: collaboration; hard work; excellence and creativity.”

The work being done at Bartholomew began when the school donated all its 50 pairs of goggles to the Eynsham Medical Group.

The Witney Road school is still open for children of key workers, with on average between 10 and 15 pupils turning up every day.

The rest of the school is being taught online.

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“It’s a good environment, all the kids have mixed well together,” said Mr Thomas.

“Bartholomew is a community school, and we are at the centre of the community.

“The school is very keen and proud to be playing its part in helping the community.”