HARD-WORKING teachers who joined forces to create thousands of vital visors, scrubs and masks for carers and NHS workers are getting ready to enjoy a well-earned break.

Craft, Design and Technology (CDT) staff at Haddington’s Knox Academy, North Berwick High School, Preston Lodge High School, in Prestonpans, Musselburgh Grammar School and Tranent’s Ross High School, came together after lockdown restrictions saw the schools close in March.

Since then, they have worked hard to make Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and created more than 4,500 visors, 60 sets of scrubs and numerous face masks.

As the school summer holidays start next week, John Troup and Liz Nicoll, who led the teams, thanked everyone for their efforts.

More than 30 staff provided the equipment to more than 120 organisations throughout East Lothian and beyond, with hundreds of hours committed.

A fundraising appeal also collected almost £9,000 in donations.

Mr Troup, who teaches CDT at the Prestonpans secondary school, said: “This team consisted of CDT staff from Knox Academy, North Berwick High School, Musselburgh Grammar, Ross High and all of Preston Lodge CDT.

“Production was bolstered by non-CDT staff from Preston Lodge’s PE, art, HE, science, and support for learning staff.

“Also thanks to [PL headteacher] Gavin Clark for handling the visor administration and the Preston Lodge office staff for ordering materials.

“I never thought, when working on the prototype computer designs, paper models and producing the first visor, that we would go on to achieve what we have.

“This was only possible due to the Preston Lodge CDT laser cutter, funded by the Preston Lodge Learning Foundation, and the amazing generosity of the community and beyond, raising funds

for materials through the Just-Giving page, organised by Julie Lowe.

“The feedback received, especially a video from a senior front line health worker using our visors, brought home the need for our visors to help keep people safe.”

Staff from Dunbar Grammar School, Knox Academy and Preston Lodge also made scrubs.

Liz Nicoll, principal teacher of health and wellbeing at Preston Lodge High School, said: “It was great to see former student Ashton Ritchie [working as a doctor in a Glasgow hospital] sporting scrubs made specially for her by our scrubs team.

“As we finish our scrub making for now, we have created more than 60 sets of scrubs, which have been distributed locally to support frontline workers.

“I would like to thank the team who worked on a rota basis to complete them: staff from Preston Lodge HE/art departments, HE staff from Knox and Dunbar, plus some of our own classroom support assistants and a member of staff from Meadowpark.

“Everyone worked in a very respectful manner to ensure social distancing was adhered to at all times.”