Head quits so ‘under-funded’ rural primary school can save on his salary

THE headteacher of a top performing Teesdale primary is leaving so the school can save on his salary amid fears about a lack of funding.
Howard Blindt, 53, says after “much soul-searching” it is in Gainford school’s best interests for him to leave in July so the financial situation can be eased.
Mr Blindt, who has been head of Gainford for 15 years, has written an emotional letter to parents explaining the decision, citing “short sighted, disjointed and often unhelpful” policy of the government.
It comes just as the Minister for School Standards, Nick Gibb, wrote to Mr Blindt to heap praise on the school for being in the top one per cent of primary schools in England for achievement in writing.
Mr Blindt said: “I am not leaving Gainford for a promotion or even to retire – after all I’m far too young for that!
“I am leaving because I do not have an answer about how to maintain the very high standards that Ofsted demands with what is now inadequate funding.”
He added: “It was my intention to remain at Gainford until ‘proper’ retirement age but recently I have come to the conclusion that it may well be in the best interest of our school for me to leave at the end of this school year. School budgets of small, rural schools such as ours are very tight indeed and this makes it particularly challenging to attain the ever increasing standards demanded by the Department for Education and Ofsted.
“I see no prospect of this changing in the foreseeable future although I am pleased that the National Association of Headteachers is desperately trying to raise awareness of this issue with the media and to campaign to improve the funding situation.”
Mr Blindt said experienced staff cost more to employ which “exacerbates the underfunding that we experience at our school”.
“My leaving therefore will provide an opportunity for some financial savings that will enable our school to be sustainable into the future and therefore benefit your children and the whole community,” added Mr Blindt, who said his letter has been greeted with sadness and some concern about the situation. New leadership of the school will be arranged following Mr Blindt’s decision leave.
“I love being a headteacher but I make no secret that I have found much of government education policy in recent years to be short sighted, disjointed and often unhelpful,” he added. “With my staff we have spent countless hours implementing new curricula and new policies that add very little real value and are sometimes counterproductive.
“It is the government’s aim for all schools to be good and we are a very good school indeed. We really should be permitted to do what we do best with a sufficient budget to get on with it.” He described Gainford as a “wonderful little school”, praising staff, parents, children and governors.
The National Union of Teachers claims small rural schools would be among the hardest hit under the Government’s proposals to revise the funding formula.
Initial figures suggest that primaries across Teesdale will be left a total of £79,000 worse off every year by the system, which will give more money to schools with more pupils. 
A Department for Education spokesperson said   school funding was at its highest level on record  in 2016-17 with more than £40billion given out.
However, he said: “It is clear that there is broad consensus on the need for a fairer funding formula to bring an end to the historic postcode lottery in school funding. 
“We recognise that schools are facing cost pressures, which is why we will continue to provide support to help them use their funding in cost effective ways, including improving the way they buy goods and services.”
Teesdale county councillor Richard Bell said: “Although Durham County will be better off as a whole, the proposed reduction in the lump sums given to all schools as ‘core’ funding, regardless of size, will hit small schools in Teesdale. I am a governor at Forest and Cotherstone and am convinced of the need to keep schools within reasonable travelling distances for primary pupils, and of the important role they play in community life.”
He has written to ministers to make that case.