A YORK headteacher has spoken of his frustration with the education system in England as he prepares to leave the profession.

Rupert Griffiths, who has been a teacher for nearly 30 years, criticised the way test results dominate the way the quality of education is assessed.

He will leave St Oswald’s CE Primary School, Fulford, at the end of the Spring term next Easter.

He has been in charge of the school for nearly ten years and a headteacher for nearly 15.

“I have made my decision after a lot of consideration and based on a number of factors, chiefly my own personal circumstances,” he wrote in a letter announcing his departure to parents.

“I feel the need to seek out a new challenge and explore different opportunities, and I believe that now is the right time to do this, both for me and for the school.”

Later in the letter he wrote: “It is a source of great frustration and sadness to me that schools continue to work under a system of accountability which seems to value test results above all else.

“I am proud that at St Oswald’s we have always taken a more rounded approach to education, which I believe is in the best interests of our children and our future.

“I know that the staff and governors will continue to strive for this.”

He also wrote: “I feel extremely proud and very fortunate to have been part of such a wonderful school and community, and to have worked with so many dedicated, hard-working colleagues, delightful pupils, supportive parents and committed governors.

“I truly believe that St Oswald’s is a very special place, particularly in its happy, caring, inclusive ethos, its diversity and its commitment to developing ‘the whole child’.

“I think that as a school we have gone a long way towards achieving our aims of ‘Learning for all, caring for each other, preparing for the future’.

“I know that I will be leaving behind a school that is very well placed for continuing success, such is the quality of the staff, leadership team and governors and the strength of its ethos and values.”

The school’s last Ofsted report, released in 2013, declared it a “good” school in all areas.