Schools may be closed to most pupils during the current lockdown, but that hasn’t prevented staff from Manchester Enterprise Academy from putting their skills and equipment to good use.

Following an approach from Anne Rogerson, a retired former secondary headteacher and the mother of a staff member at Wythenshawe Hospital, the Academy’s art and design team sprang into action to manufacture 50 protective visors for staff to wear in the battle against COVID-19. “None of us had made visors before” said Suzanne Davies, the Academy Head of Art and Design, “but we were sent a link to the online specification, so we teamed our expertise and set to work with the laser cutter”. 

Since then, the team – Suzanne and her colleagues Maggie McManus, Jenny Petit and Simon Crabb - have stepped up production, receiving orders for 450 more visors from a number of community health organisations.  “It’s such a strange time at the moment” said Maggie, “at this time of year, we would normally be incredibly busy preparing students for exams in a building full of staff and children. As teachers, we feel a bit lost without the hustle and bustle of school life, and it has been good to be involved in a project that is making a difference on the front line.”  

Anne Rogerson, whose initial telephone call to MEA set things in motion has expressed her thanks to the team. she said “The speedy response to assist those on the “Covid 19 Front Line” by producing visors richly demonstrates the core values of Manchester Enterprise Academy. This is a supreme example of a school working to support its local community. It is clear that for MEA “vision and values” is not merely a statement, but a practical reality. Many thanks for responding so promptly, selflessly and efficiently to the request to protect those key workers, one of whom is my daughter and all of whom really appreciate your supportive efforts."