ALAN Friswell declares in your letters column (Craven Herald letters, November 12) that school leaders are showing “dithering ineptitude” and accuses them of being supine during the Covid crisis. May I offer an alternative view, being a Governor of Settle College and having seen first hand what has been happening.

The leadership at Settle College has kept the school open every day since the first lockdown was announced, sometimes at weekends, pausing only for the brief summer break. Vulnerable children and those of key workers have had the opportunity to be in school throughout.

The headteacher and his team have dealt with the farce over the summer exams, putting in place remote teaching overnight, reorganising the timetable, putting social distancing into effect, reassuring worried pupils and parents and caring for their staff.

They have done this without complaint, driven by the commitment they have to the young people of Craven. Since September, they have coped with not knowing who will be in school, pupils and teachers alike, from one day to the next. They are on call day and night, seven days a week, to deal with Public Health England and the impact of pupils and teachers being tested positive.

The school leaders do not crave public recognition, or to be awarded medals for getting on and doing their jobs at such a challenging time. Nor, however, do they deserve ill-informed backbiting in the letter columns of the local newspaper.

I hope this letter sets the record straight and I am confident that other school governors across Craven would share the heartfelt thanks that we owe to our headteachers.

Simon Peach

Governor

Settle College