Leading a primary school through the lockdown has had its fair share of challenges for executive principal Sophie Murfin. She speaks to Yvonne Gandy about how this period has triggered changes that will continue when normal service eventually resumes

School leaders are an optimistic, forward-thinking lot who tend to see the positive in even the most challenging situations.

Sophie Murfin, executive principal at the Wise Owl Trust, is one of them. She leads a growing multi-academy trust formed in 2012 which is currently made up of three primary academies, each serving very disadvantaged neighbourhoods in east Manchester.

When the pandemic lockdown hit in late March, “the rug was pulled from beneath our feet”.

“It’s been a very challenging time, but it has also been a very rewarding and optimistic time,” Ms Murfin explained. “We’ve worked together to cope with these massive changes, and it will change some aspects of what we do in the future.”

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