A NEW headteacher has taken over the reigns at Longtown Primary School.

Jemma Nicholson, from Carlisle, starting the role just after Easter and is helping children settle into school life following the relaxation of the lockdown in March.

Before she arrived she said the school was under the able stewardship of acting headteacher Lauren Hitchen, who has now gone back to the role of deputy head.

Mrs Nicholson said one of the main objectives was the wellbeing of the children after the lockdown and helping them settle back to face to face learning after a year of learning at home.

She added: "I think one of the main challenges is taking that love and support for teaching and transferring it over into support for teachers.

"I think it is an absolute privilege in the way you can help change children's lives.

"We are much about engaging with the community.

"Recently we have been learning about random acts of kindness with them giving out little packets of sweets to residents."

Before coming to Longtown Mrs Nicholson was headteacher at Holm Culturan CE, in Wigton, for four years.

Prior to that she taught at Petteril Bank Primary School, Burnett Road, Carlisle.

In March the school returned after a series of lockdowns.

At the time Mrs Hitchen said they were over the moon to have the children back and thanked all the staff for the work they have put in to making the school as safe as it can be.

“The return to school has been fantastic," she said. "It has been long awaited. I think staff and children were eager to return to some form of normality.

The school is part of the Cumbria Educational Multi Academy Trust.

It was formed in September 2015 and is a not-for-profit charitable organisation.

Other schools include Workington Academy, William Howard School, Brampton, and Heningham Academy, Whitehaven, together with a number of others.