Six months on from starting her new role as Principal of Aghadrumsee Primary School, Julie Cummings is settling in well to life at the small rural primary school.

"I started in June, so I had a whole month before the summer holidays came in. It helped me to get to know the school a bit and know what I was coming in to then in September," she told this newspaper.

Before taking on her current role as Principal of the Fermanagh primary school, Julie was working for the Education Authority in the School Development Service.

"Prior to that I was working in the Early Years Service, providing support for children before they would start school with additional educational needs.

"Before that I had been Principal of two other small country primary schools as well. A small country primary school is very much where I feel happiest, [with their] community and the family feel," said Julie, who is thoroughly enjoying her latest position in Aghadrumsee.

Referring to the small size of the school and the benefits that it brings, she said with a smile: "You know every child by name, you know their interests, you probably know their pets!

"You know what they've done at the weekend, and you know what their parents have done at the weekend," she laughed.

"It's such a good way to get to know children – and children, if they have a good relationship with you, they will open up to you, and they are much more able to learn and have a readiness to learn," said Julie, commenting that she believes that in a small school, "relationships are key".

She continued: "Having children who are happy in their work is very important."

Settling in well over the past six months, Julie added that she has been made to feel very welcome by the school community; by the staff, parents and children alike: "It has been amazing, the parents have rallied round.

"And the children have just been so wonderful. They are lovely, warm children who are eager to learn – it makes coming to work a pleasure every day."

Talking about the support for the school that she has witnessed first-hand, she said: "Our grounds are looking lovely. Parents came in in August and at the beginning of September to get the school looking well again. It was the first time they'd been in the school since before Covid.

"They were painting, they were power-hosing, they were planting. It was just really good and it was great to get to meet some of them," she added.

Outlining her hopes for the new year at the school, Julie said: "My hopes are for the children to remain happy in their learning. I think it is always a struggle when children have so many things at home and outside that are attractive to them, and it's trying to make education still attractive and relevant for them.

"Also, with Covid-19, the children haven't had as much socialisation as maybe other children would have had, but in this school, we are very blessed.

"We have a lot of cousins within the school, and brothers and sisters obviously too, so that has been a lovely thing – that families get to spend so much time together, even despite Covid.

"So my hopes would be that the children continue to meet their potential and a really high standard of education for them here at Aghadrumsee," she told The Impartial Reporter.