Secondary school could lose staff

The union says the school cannot afford to lose teachers

A secondary school could lose up to seven teachers due to financial difficulties, a union has warned.

The Welsh teachers union UCAC says the 385-pupil Ysgol Tywyn in Gwynedd will have to make the cuts by Christmas.

In March, Gwynedd council's education authority was criticised for helping another struggling school in Caernarfon.

The councils' head of education, Dewi R Jones, said the authority was working with Tywyn school.

"It appears the school is facing quite a substantial debt which means that up to seven jobs might be shed by the end of this year," said Eryl Owain, the local UCAC officer.

Save jobs

"For a small secondary school to lose this many staff would be a severe blow, which would make it very difficult for the school to continue to offer the best quality education."

The union added that Gwynedd Council needed to work with the school to save as many as possible of the teaching posts.

Elaine Edwards, UCAC's general secretary said there was a need for the Welsh Assembly Government to look again at the way schools are funded.

"We welcome the bid to increase the number of choices available for pupils aged 14-19, but schools cannot offer these choices unless they are given enough money to do so," she added.

Dewi R Jones, Gwynedd Council's Head of Education, said the education authority was aware of the situation of Ysgol Uwchradd Tywyn.

Financial help

"Whilst we are not prepared to discuss the financial situation of individual schools, it has become clear that Ysgol Uwchradd Tywyn will have to provide the curriculum with fewer staff in the future," he said.

Mr Jones added: "I am confident that we will be able to enter into an open and constructive discussion with the governors of Ysgol Uwchradd Tywyn and that we can agree on a positive way ahead for the school."

In March, a decision to give Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen in Caernarfon £150,000 because of its budget deficit was criticised as "setting a precedent".

Councillor Aeron Jones, from Llais Gwynedd, said the decision on whether to provide financial help to the school should have been made by elected council members, not education officers.

In addition. he said that now any other school facing similar difficulties should also be given assistance.