As part of our new feature, we are talking with members of the Outwood Family and finding out how life has changed for them since the wider reopening of the primary academies.

This time we chat with Karen Wakefield, Principal at Outwood Primary Academy Littleworth Grange.

Read on to see how Karen and the team at OPA Littleworth Grange dealt with the wider reopening of the academy to children.

[Outwood.com] Hi Karen, thanks for taking the time to chat with us. We appreciate you’re busy, so let’s get to it! Things have been turned upside down recently, for reasons we are all too aware of. So, as we begin to enter a new ‘normal’, how were you feeling prior to the academy reopening?

“Hello! Thank you for asking me to take part. Well, prior to returning my feelings were really quite mixed, as to be expected I think.

“I was really looking forward to returning to school and welcoming the children coming back in, and to be honest I was excited for some sort of normality returning. However, it was also a nervous time, obviously with not knowing what to expect in terms of the virus but also in terms of managing the sense of unease at the return. 

“There was an awful lot to do to ensure the school was ready and I was anxious about ensuring that we were meeting all of the guidance.”

We have heard that a lot. It seems many people had a similar mix of excitement and nervousness prior to the reopening. What would you say was the most challenging aspect of the wider reopening?

“I think the biggest challenge was managing the staff fears about the reopening process. It’s an uncertain period currently and we are all a little on edge, and things were trickier given the fact I had only just taken over as Principal as the school closed.

“Therefore I hadn’t had the time to build the strong relationships with the staff that I enjoy now. So that played into that uncertainty, as they didn't know me.”

That must have made things more complicated, but more rewarding as the process was successful. What would you say has surprised you most about the process?

“I’ve been surprised, in an exceptionally positive way, by how quickly the staff, children and their parents have all adapted to the new routines and ways of working. It really has been incredible to witness.”

That sounds like a very positive note to end this quick chat on. Thank you for your time, Karen.