THE FACT that the latest instalment of the Ridings Federation saga is that it has been brought to the highest level of government shows just how bad the situation has become.

With the Castle School and Olympus federations now part of the equation, there could be a light at the end of the tunnel.

But even still, it again has to be asked how the highest performing school in the county can fall from grace in such a short spell of time, and what kind of work will it take to bring it back from the brink?

Will the parents and staff have the faith in their schools to keep going after constantly being left concerned by the groups in charge of their children’s education?

It will be interesting to see what comes out of Mr Hall and Mr Lopresti meeting with the Secretary of State, but regardless, the road ahead will not be a simple one and there may well be more bumps in the road ahead.

It would be a big shame for more problems to befall the schools, but if they are to make it through these problems, some good news needs to come along soon.