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Heads warn over 30 teachers' jobs Heads warn over 30 teachers' jobs
(about 10 hours later)
A secondary schools funding crisis could mean more than 30 teaching jobs are cut in Powys, head teachers claim.A secondary schools funding crisis could mean more than 30 teaching jobs are cut in Powys, head teachers claim.
In an open letter, the county's 13 head teachers said schools were in an "impossible position", while the county council warned of staff cuts. The county's 13 heads said schools were in an "impossible position" while the council warned of staff cuts.
They blame the council settlement and a 7.4% cut to sixth-form funding. One union warned it was the "tip of the iceberg" with jobs also under threat in other parts of Wales.
The Welsh Assembly Government said times were "challenging" but it was committed to "providing the necessary resources" for councils.The Welsh Assembly Government said times were "challenging" but it was committed to "providing the necessary resources" for councils.
Powys council has warned that more than 30 teaching jobs could be axed as a result of the cash deficit. The Powys head teachers, in an open letter, blame the problem on the council's settlement and a 7.4% cut to sixth-form funding.
But a decision to cut sixth-form budgets, which was announced last week, is seen as the final straw for secondary schools by head teachers. We are now faced with a funding crisis that has put our schools in an impossible position Powys' head teachers Powys council has warned that more than 30 teaching jobs could be axed as a result of a cash deficit.
We are now faced with a funding crisis that has put our schools in an impossible position Powys' head teachers
But a decision to cut sixth-form budgets, which was announced last week, is seen as the final straw for secondary schools by head teachers.
The reduction in sixth-form funding will set the county's schools back about £840,000, warned council officials.The reduction in sixth-form funding will set the county's schools back about £840,000, warned council officials.
In a letter to Powys council and the assembly government, the head teachers said: "We are now faced with a funding crisis that has put our schools in an impossible position.In a letter to Powys council and the assembly government, the head teachers said: "We are now faced with a funding crisis that has put our schools in an impossible position.
"Many secondary schools in Powys will have to make further redundancies over the next 12 months after the poor settlement of 1.5% the county council has received from the Welsh Assembly Government."Many secondary schools in Powys will have to make further redundancies over the next 12 months after the poor settlement of 1.5% the county council has received from the Welsh Assembly Government.
"The recent news that funding changes and a 7.43% cut for post-16 education, which has resulted in a cut of £844,000, is seen as the final straw for the secondary schools."The recent news that funding changes and a 7.43% cut for post-16 education, which has resulted in a cut of £844,000, is seen as the final straw for the secondary schools.
'Unable to deliver''Unable to deliver'
"Many schools will be unable to deliver their curriculum from September 2009 if they have to make further redundancies.""Many schools will be unable to deliver their curriculum from September 2009 if they have to make further redundancies."
David Jones, the councillor responsible for schools in Powys, said: "The authority had expected to receive an allocation of £8.4m but has only received £7.6m, leaving a shortfall in the region of £840,000.David Jones, the councillor responsible for schools in Powys, said: "The authority had expected to receive an allocation of £8.4m but has only received £7.6m, leaving a shortfall in the region of £840,000.
"The shortfall has largely been caused by a 7.43% cut in the allocation to both local authorities and further education colleges across Wales.""The shortfall has largely been caused by a 7.43% cut in the allocation to both local authorities and further education colleges across Wales."
Councillors and officers are due to meet assembly government officials to discuss the position next week.Councillors and officers are due to meet assembly government officials to discuss the position next week.
A Welsh Assembly Government spokesman said: "These are challenging economic and financial times for the public sector, businesses and citizens alike. Geraint Davies of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) said there would be job losses in other parts of Wales.
"Powys County Council will receive £177.9m in core funding from the Welsh Assembly Government in 2009-10 to support local services. This is equivalent to £1,348 for every man, woman and child living in the area and represents a 1.5% increase on last year's settlement." "This is the tip of the iceberg. There are signals that there will be job losses throughout Wales," he said.
"They are expected in areas like Gwynedd, Ceredigion, Blaenau Gwent and other areas in the valleys, but the picture will be clearer in two to three weeks time."
Mr Davies added that teachers at Rhyl High School were taking strike action next Thursday over the decision to cut sixth-form funding.
A Welsh Assembly Government spokesman said: "These are challenging economic and financial times for the public sector, businesses and citizens alike."
He said Powys Council would receive £177.9m in core funding from the assembly government in 2009-10 to support local services, which was equivalent to £1,348 for every man, woman and child living in the area and represented a 1.5% increase on last year's settlement.