The end of the summer term also signalled the end of an era at Stainton CofE Primary School.
After 32 years of dedication and devotion to her school and the surrounding community, headteacher Helen Dunham has retired from teaching.
Helen began her teaching career at Stainton School in September, 1991, as a probationer and never left. She demonstrated commitment to generations of children and their families over more than three decades — for very nearly half of which she was headteacher.
The school governors said that throughout her career the children’s wellbeing and development were at the heart of everything Helen did.
They stated: “She is proof that teaching is a vocation, not a job. Her single-minded desire is to do what is best for the children at all times — never more so than during the COVID pandemic when she worked tirelessly and selflessly to keep every member of the school community safe, families supported and ensure that as many pupils were able to return to classroom teaching as soon as possible after the first lockdown.
“Her vision for the whole school community has always been to provide a loving and safe environment in which to learn and grow and to inspire everyone to enjoy life to the full and aspire to be the very best they can be.”
A major part of Helen’s vision for the children at Stainton has been an enriched education beyond the confines of the National Curriculum. Art and music have always played a key role in her teaching.
Jane Hasell-McCosh, a former chair of the governors, said: “Helen has been a remarkable headteacher who has enriched and enabled many children and they have benefited from her generosity of time, expertise and professionalism. I have particularly enjoyed her enthusiasm for the school to be involved in the marmalade festival at Dalemain, at which the school choir each year has sung the Marmalade Song to the delight of the audience.
“She also brought the school choir to London to sing at the Japanese Embassy at the launch of the marmalade competition in 2018. Because the Marmalade Song talks about the Ritz Hotel, she managed to organise a visit to the Ritz where the school party was given a specially guided tour of the magnificent rooms.
“She leaves a very strong team to go forward, but she will be very much missed.”
Part of Helen’s legacy at the school is an experienced and dedicated team who share her passion and vision. They will be led by new headteacher Rachael Wilson.
Rachel said: “I have had the pleasure of working for Helen and alongside her for nine years as deputy head. Helen embodies the ethos of Stainton — ‘Love one another as I have loved you’. This ethos has been established through her vision, insight, dedication and passion for Stainton.
“We will miss her. We thank her for the staff team that she has put in place, who will continue the strong vision.”
This dedication was recognised during the school’s SIAMS inspection back in 2019, when Stainton was the first Church of England School in Cumbria to be awarded a rating of excellent.
The school held a garden party in Helen’s honour at the beginning of July to celebrate all she had achieved and to say thank you for all she gave to so many over the years. The chair of governors, Isobel Morley, said: “It was a wonderful opportunity for past pupils and staff to join with the current community to rekindle old memories and create new ones for Helen to cherish and tell her how much she means to us all.
“When asked to sum up what Helen means to them, all the staff said ‘Helen is Stainton!’ Those are big shoes to fill, but the governors are confident that Rachael has the passion, determination and expertise to continue building on the foundation she herself has worked hard with Mrs Dunham and the team to create.
“We thank Helen for her love and dedication. She will indeed be very much missed. We wish her a well deserved rest, more quality time with her family and every happiness in her next big adventure.”
