‘Sorry’ would have been better

‘Sorry’ really does appear to be the hardest word (‘Council leader says late intervention over academisation of two schools ‘caused unnecessary distress’, Observer, June 23).

The only ‘unnecessary distress’ caused by the now abandoned closure of Rumboldswhyke and Clapham and Patching schools was that caused by WSCC.

The council could have listened to its scrutiny committee twice. If it had done so the schools could have been saved earlier. UNISON members at the schools were asking about academy status back at the initial HR briefings for staff in February but no one was prepared to listen to them.

Staff welfare figured very low down the list of priorities during the botched process, if anywhere. Heads were left to do their best to support staff when they had to manage a school during a closure programme and also deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. It wasn’t good enough.

The letter to the Regional Schools Commissioner is an attempt to deflect a humiliation for the leader. It would be far better to just say sorry.

Councillors are not yet paying enough attention to the Coughlan report into the workings of the council. They do not accept blame, show a willingness to learn from mistakes, or find it easy to work in partnership, with parents, staff or trade unions.

That has to change and trade unions and the community stand by for when there is a willing partner. DAN SARTIN Branch Secretary UNISON West Sussex