It is probably not a bad idea that the Department of Education should be investigating the latest row at Oakbank School, Keighley. The head teacher and governors, having found themselves at loggerheads with some parents over the type of school blazer they insist should be worn, now seem to have got into a bit of a tangle in their attempt to compromise. It is one of those situations where an outside adjudicator could well help.

All credit to head teacher John Roberts for listening to the concerns of those parents who want to be able to buy an "unofficial" blazer of the right colour from wherever they can find the best deal and sew an official badge on to it, rather than buy a blazer with integral badge from the designated supplier.

Mr Roberts and the governors have now agreed that parents can buy from the shop of their choice. However, the new rule will apply only from next year because it is felt, rightly, that to exempt the seven families concerned would be unfair to those parents who were unhappy about having to buy an official blazer but did so nevertheless.

The governors' offer to buy back the unofficial blazers so that the parents can buy official ones appears to have been spurned. Unless there is a change of heart on someone's part, it looks as if the school will find itself running a sort of "lending wardrobe" of official blazers for pupils to wear during the day and hand in before they go home.

The biggest lesson to be learned, for all concerned, is that talking to each other before decisions are made can solve a lot of problems.