Last updated at 08:00, Friday, 22 May 2009

THE head of Aspatria’s Richmond Hill Primary School is preparing to retire on a high note.

Barry Dickinson became headteacher in 1986 and will leave in July, just two months after an Ofsted report praised him for his part in what inspectors called a rapidly improving school.

Mr Dickinson, 58, grew up in Salterbeck, Workington. He trained in Manchester, mainly because he was a Manchester United fan.

He began teaching at Seaton in 1973. He was acting head of Moor Row and then Westfield school by the time he was 30, before moving to Aspatria in 1986.

He left the school in 2005 but returned in 2007 and has been working to turn the school around from what Ofsted said were considerable difficulties and some disappointing results.

Mr Dickinson said his job had been made easier by the fact that he was probably working with the best staff he had known in his career. This was confirmed by the Ofsted report, published this week, which described teaching as generally good and in some cases outstanding. There was no unsatisfactory teaching.

It said that Mr Dickinson had brought the school through a turbulent time over the last couple of years. The report also praised the community, the diligent and tireless governing body and the school team for their commendable endeavour during the difficult times.

Mr Dickinson said from the time he got to Aspatria he knew the school was special and that leaving the children, staff and the community would be sad.

But he said after 28 years of headship he was ready for a break.

“I don’t want to retire completely. I would like to do some supply teaching, get into the classroom. After all these years, teaching is still what I enjoy best,” he said.

He said education had changed considerably over the years, much of it for the good.

But like many of his colleagues he was critical of the SATs tests and league tables.

“Achievement is better than attainment,” he said.

Retirement will give Mr Dickinson time to do some of the things he loves, and top of the list is his music. He is a member of the band The Evidence, which opened the Maryport Blues Festival last year.

The group consists of two other heads, Mike Cunningham of Flimby and Alex Wilkinson from Fairfield Junior School in Cockermouth, two school inspectors Dave Mason and Mike Telford, and Workington ambulance driver Dave McDonald.

He also plans to become more active in St Michael’s Church in Workington, spend more time with his younger sons aged nine and 10 and with his first grandson who is one-year-old.

He is also considering doing a doctorate in inclusive education.

First published at 19:26, Thursday, 21 May 2009
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk