Back to Class...with Wendy Bartlett

As the new academic year begins, we have managed to grab five minutes with some busy members of the Outwood Family to discuss how they have found getting back into the classroom and being together again with students.

This time we sat down with Wendy Bartlett, a PE teacher at Outwood Academy Freeston who last year coached the Y10 netball team to its maiden title at the Castleford and Pontefract netball tournament, open to schools in the area.

Outwood.com: Hi Wendy! Thanks for chatting with us during what is a very busy time for you I am sure, so I will get straight to it.

It is September and we are back in the classroom, so how did you feel in the lead up to the start of the new academic year?

WB: “Hello! It’s nice to speak with you again and thanks for asking me to take part in this. 

“Despite all the uncertainty around at the minute, I did feel quite positive and fine about being back on site and in the academy. 

“All the information regarding safety precautions and the work that had been undertaken to ensure our safety, and that of our students, had been shared well in advance and that made me feel positive about returning.”

That is a positive start then. Early communication is always essential to getting off to a good start isn’t it! In addition to being positive about returning, was there any element of returning which you were excited about? 

“Definitely! I was so excited to see the students again. It had been so long since we had been face to face with students and interacting with them in person. 

“But with that excitement, there were some nerves as I expected some students would be scared about returning which is very understandable given the circumstances and also I was a little unsure about how PE would work logistically.”

More than understandable that some students would be concerned, and PE is different to classroom based lessons so I can imagine that took some extra prep but now you’re back how has it gone?

“It’s been great being back in but it has been non-stop with little time to prepare once back in. 

“I am a Y7 tutor, which is brilliant and I have loved meeting the new students and spending time with them.”

Sounds like a tough start to the term but with some undeniable high points! Has this affected your hopes or expectations for the rest of the term?

“While I am undeniably excited for the rest of the new term, like most people I have some concerns for the future just because of the unprecedented circumstances we are now in.

“While the students seem to be bedding in well with the new safety precautions in place, it’s difficult not to worry about how well lunches and breaks will happen, similar with the movement between classes.

“But these are the times we live in and I am confident that we will get back to normal as soon as possible.”

We completely agree, Wendy. Thank you for your time and speaking with us.