The new headteacher at a Keswick primary school has admitted he has big shoes to fill as he takes up his new post.
Michael Craig has taken over at St Herbert’s from Shelagh Hughes, who retired in the summer after 10 years in charge.
Formerly head at St James’s Infants School in Whitehaven, where he worked for five years, Mr Craig’s 18-year teaching career has included stints at schools in Carlisle and Workington.
“It’s a fantastic challenge, and the opportunity of working at such a special school as St Herbert’s was the prime reason for me to move,” he said.
“It has an established reputation as being an amazing place to educate children, and in the two weeks I’ve been here I can already see why.”
Mr Craig says his aim is to build on the achievements of Mrs Hughes, who oversaw the school’s Ofsted rating move from satisfactory to good and its current Inspection of Anglican and Methodist School Report grade rated as outstanding.
“Mrs Hughes did a brilliant job here, and I’ve certainly got big shoes to fill,” he said. “But I’m fortunate that I have an equally brilliant staff to work with, and of course the children are just great.
“In fact, I found myself standing in the playground the other day and just looking round, thinking ‘wow’!”
Although he lives in Flimby, Mr Craig says he knows Keswick well. “It’s only half an hour away, so I’ve been here many times. Being able to work here is a dream come true.”
