74 teachers face the axe

More than 70 teaching jobs face being axed because of a cash crisis in Staffordshire, it has been revealed.

The figures reveal the extent of the problem that has also seen scores of jobs lost at schools across the region.

Schools in the boroughs of South Staffordshire, Cannock Chase, Lichfield and Stafford have issued 74 redundancy notices to staff.

In South Staffordshire, 23 teacher posts could go as 13 schools look to save cash.

In Cannock Chase, 14 schools have issued redundancy notices affecting jobs equal to 19 full time teachers and in Lichfield the equivalent of 14 teachers are facing the axe at eight schools.

The worst area affected is Stafford where 26 schools are set to lose 18 teachers.

Across the whole of Staffordshire, a quarter of all 400 schools have issued redundancy notices. There are around 7,000 teachers employed in the county.

The figures reflect a crisis in classrooms as schools struggle with falling budgets and a drop in pupil numbers.

In Walsall, at least three schools have jobs at risk, including Brownhills Technology College. Sandwell Council has also received notification of redundancies at Timbertree Primary School in Cradley Heath.

The redundancy notices issued by Staffordshire County Council were today criticised by Cannock Chase Council leader Neil Stanley, who said making cuts in such a key area was "misguided".

Tom Hobbins, spokesman for the county council said: "Experience over the past few years has shown that the number of potential redundancies identified usually exceeds the number of actual redundancies made by approximately 30 per cent. This is because schools issue notices as a precautionary measure whilst finalising their budgetary position for the forthcoming year."