A POPULAR head teacher at a thriving village primary school is retiring after 16 years at the helm.

Karen Shankland will leave Broughton Primary School Academy with many happy memories. The school has changed in various ways over the years.

When she arrived, after 19 years as a senior teacher at Bridekirk Dovenby School, there were about 100 pupils, there are now 135.

"We've had lots of work done on the school building, the curriculum has developed and extended, we have lots of after school clubs and healthy eating.

"I'm a big believer in healthy body, healthy mind and have put a lot of emphasis on sports and clubs," said Mrs Shankland, who has promised pupils she will still be involved with the Saturday morning cycle club.

She is looking forward to moving on from the world of education and spending more time running, cycling and with her family.

"The headship was like hitting a brick wall at great speed. It's a steep learning curve, you think you know what the job entails but you don't until you start.

"You live and breathe the role, everything you do centres around it," said Mrs Shankland.

"There have been some lows but also lots of highs. It's an all-consuming job but I have had a great staff. You are only as good as the team around you.

"The huge majority of parents have also been very supportive and we have strong links with the church and village."

Mrs Shankland has enjoyed being involved in teacher training over the years.

"I always tell people that the hours are long and the pay is rubbish but the rewards are fantastic," she said.

"I love children and the job but the reason I'm going is that I no longer want to be expected to make children jump through hoops that some of them are not able to, to meet targets. I can't do that any more.

"The ever present Ofsted cloud is always there, we never know when they will come knocking. The budget is always tightening, who knows what's going to happen. It's not going to get easier."

She will be replaced by Anna Bewsher, who has been deputy head for two years and has twin girls at the school.

"I'm sad to leave the children and wonderful staff but the time is right to hand the reins over to someone younger who can move the school forward," said Mrs Shankland, 58.

There have been lots of celebrations in the final weeks, including a party at Cockermouth Cricket Club where Mrs Shankland was serenaded by Cockermouth Mechanics Band.

"I love brass bands, my daughter Chloe used to play in the mechanics. I had no idea they would be there and as I was walking across the pitch they played 'Congratulations'. It was a lovely surprise," she said.

Ray Dobie, a governor of 38 years, said: "Karen has been an excellent head teacher, the staff think the world of her. She has worked so hard and doesn't stop at the weekends, she's always out and about doing so much with the kids."