ON Cheryl Heron’s watch, St Aldhelm’s Academy was defrauded of more than £1m and ordered by government to get its financial affairs in order. Results left much to be desired, not least in 2011.

Running any secondary school is no walk in the park, especially one with a challenging catchment area. That’s why many heads command six-figure salaries. In return, they need to provide inspiration and leadership.

And in the academy model, sponsors play a pivotal role. Bournemouth University and the Diocese of Salisbury have been asked to step down. It seems that whatever has gone wrong, it’s a collective failure.