IT WAS an emotional day for North-East headteacher Tim Gunn yesterday when he finally left his "hectic" £31,000-a-year primary school post for life in the slow lane.

Staff and pupils at Wolsingham Primary School in County Durham bade a fond farewell to their head, who is quitting the school and opting to work as a lorry driver.

A special assembly was held at the school on the last day of term yesterday and he was inundated with cards and gifts.

Mr Gunn, a teacher for nearly 30 years, told The Northern Echo earlier this month he was quitting his post because "the fun had gone out of it".

He said the constant administration and management changes imposed on schools by the Government had left him looking for a new direction in life.

Only last year he won the backing of parents after the school received a roasting by Ofsted inspectors.

The report highlighted unsatisfactory progress in maths and science and below standard attainment in information technology, a lack of educational direction from the head and governors, unsatisfactory financial planning and health and safety provision, and poor development and monitoring of the curriculum.

However, the inspectors praised attainment in some key subjects, provision for special needs children, quality of teaching and pupils' behaviour, working relationships, personal development, attitude to work and attendance.

Mr Gunn received unanimous support of parents for his running of the 280-pupil school.

At the time he said: "The criticism centred on the school development plan, which the inspectors just didn't like. But I would rather be criticised for poor statistical information and managerial documents than for bad behaviour, poor attendance and unhappy pupils or parents.''

When he announced his decision to step down earlier this year, the head denied the Ofsted row had influenced his thinking.

Mr Gunn, who has been at Wolsingham primary for nine years, admitted yesterday had been "quite a difficult day" for him, but said he also had a number of ventures lined up for the future, as well as driving for Stillers Building Services, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

He declined to comment further