A SCHOOL community paid an emotional farewell to a headteacher who dedicated the past eight years to making ‘Barney’ an excellent place to learn.
Headmaster of Barnard Castle School Tony Jackson decided to step down as the first of his three children prepared to move from preparatory to senior school in September.
He is also leaving the teaching profession to take up a fresh challenge as chief commercial officer for Penny Petroleum, which operates 100 petrol stations and convenience stores around the North.
Mr Jackson said: “I’m going to miss this place. This is my dream job at my dream school. It’s because of my love of this place that I am stepping away as head.
“I desperately want my children to be Barnardians and with Annabel joining Senior School in September and with Georgina and William following shortly after, I want to be their dad as opposed to their headmaster. I also don’t want to be expelling boyfriends, which I would absolutely do.”
Mr Jackson joined the school in 2016 as second master securing the headmaster’s job the following year.
He said: “In my role, I have spoken to hundreds of parents and asked them what they want for their children. In almost every single response the same three things are stated.
“They want their child to be happy, to have self-esteem, to be who they are and who they want to be, to be comfortable in their own skin. Secondly, they want them to have confidence without arrogance, to be able to grasp opportunities, take risks, try new things without the fear of failing, and when they do fail, have the resilience to get up and go again. Thirdly, they want them to be life ready, armed with the skills to not just survive in this rapidly changing world we live in, but to thrive in it.”
In his time at school Mr Jackson built a senior leadership team which, with the help of governors, helped secure an ‘excellent’ rating from the Independent Schools Inspectorate last year.
He said he was proud to achieve the top rating and also of how the school community pulled together during the COVID pandemic. “You don’t know how strong you are until you have to be strong,” he said.
“We found out that we were strong and have built on that to become a better school. It has been the greatest privilege of my life leading this school and looking after its children. It’s now time to look after mine.”
His wife Dawn will remain at the school as a geography teacher and Mr Jackson said he would continue to be an advocate and an ambassador for Barney.
He said he was delighted to be handing over the reins to a new headmaster who shared Barney’s unique ethos.
David Cresswell will take over in September from Whitgift School, in Croydon, London, where he is senior deputy head, responsible for day-to-day operations.
The 38-year-old served as Barnard Castle School’s deputy head in charge of sixth form from 2017-2020.
Mr Jackson said: “I can assure you, David is a great guy, an immensely impressive man and we are very lucky to have him.
“Barney possesses that magical combination of culture, ethos, character, kindness, togetherness and a total absence of pretension and David knows and understands the school well. As a parent, I am hugely reassured that he is going to be the one leading us through the next few months and years, along with an outstanding governing body, senior team, and wider staff body.”
Chair of Governors Catherine Sunley said: “Tony’s journey with us has been one of inspiration, transformation and growth. He should be rightly proud of what he has achieved as he leaves the school in a strong position and has ensured that the processes, the purpose and the people are in situ for it to continue well into the future.”
