A 2,200-word editorial by Bath Chronicle editor Sam Holliday has won round a number of people who were incensed at the paper’s coverage of an inspectors’ report on a local college.

The Chronicle concentrated on a negative aspect of the report for its headline, which read: “Dull – Official verdict on college teaching”.

The editor took his chance to explain why the front page story had picked out the dull teaching label from the report, and how he and the newspaper had learned from the amazing response from readers.

More than three pages of critical letters have been published, unedited, and a platform was given to both the students’ union and management at City of Bath College to help set the record straight.

Some of the report’s findings were based on an inspection that occurred before the current management team took over, while other, positive aspects were mentioned only further down the article.

In his Chronicle article on Thursday, the editor wrote: “I would like to sincerely apologise to anybody from the City of Bath College who felt hurt by the report that the Bath Chronicle produced.

“If we then look at the report that has caused such ire, I will put my hand up and admit, and apologise, for the fact that the headline of our story – which focused on ‘dull’ teaching – and the first few paragraphs that followed it did NOT fully convey the overall nature of the Ofsted report on the college.”

His approach to the flack generated by the Chronicle reporting has impressed some of those close to the story.

Acting college principal Peter Moseley wrote: “I fully acknowledge your paper’s prompt response to my complaint and the very open way you have encouraged debate and allowed Bath citizen’s full opportunity to express their views.

“Such openness and willingness to publish reader’s letters, strongly critical – for the most part – of your paper’s quality of reporting, is unprecedented in my experience.

”You have done this, not just once, but for five days running. It is my view that your personal leadership of the Chronicle’s response has been all, and more, than any community could ask of its newspaper editor. I respect and thank you for this.”

Another reader wrote in to say: “This is a really gracious response by Sam, since his comments were essentially those of the Ofsted report itself. But to apologise when other editors might well have justified themselves is a fine response, and shows that the Chron is not of the gutter press. Far from it.”