EVERYBODY at Winterbourne International Academy must now move forward.

If the edgy meeting on Monday night is anything to go by that will be more difficult than it sounds. But, for the good of the 1,800 pupils who attend the academy, and its now blemished reputation, moving on is the only direction Winterbourne should be looking.

Enough of the who said what to whom, the whys and wherefores and the blame game, now is the time for the academy to join forces, regroup and put up a united front.

Teachers may well still have outstanding issues with the new management. Unions too are keeping a close eye on whether their list of agreements is adhered to. And management certainly has some way to go in improving the academy’s outcomes for students and regaining the trust of its staff.

All these things take time. But for the very people who matter most, time is of the essence.

Year 11 students taking their GCSEs next summer have only a matter of months before sitting those all-important exams. Their results will shape their lives forever and what they need now, more than anything, is the help and support of their teachers and to go to school to learn not be surrounded by tension, stress and animosity.

The academy’s new intake of Year 7 students have little time left of their settling period and for them, stability is now key.

Doubtless all involved also want to return to a time of calm and impressive results.