College staff face job cuts (From The Oxford Times)

Wantage college to cut jobs as it moves to deal with budget black hole

2:46pm Tuesday 19th May 2009 in News By Hayley Cover

OXFORDSHIRE’S first foundation school, King Alfred Community and Sports College at Wantage, is being forced to cut jobs because of a black hole in its £8m budget.

It has a £200,000 budget deficit and will have to axe non-frontline jobs by September.

The college, which has three sites in the town, could see the black hole rise to £600,000 by 2012 if nothing is done to save money.

No teaching posts are under threat, but teachers’ workload will increase by one lesson from September.

Principal Nicholas Young said the situation would not be good for morale, but the budget had to be kept under control.

He said: “We have to take action.”

The college, which has sites in Challow Road, Portway and Springfield Road, became the county’s first foundation school in January 2007.

Foundation status means the college owns its buildings and grounds, employs its own staff and can operate its own admissions policy.

Mr Young said: “As one of the biggest employers in Wantage, which has already seen many employers undertaking dramatic numbers of redundancies, we take very seriously our responsibility to our staff and the wider community.”

It is thought the support staff redundancies — either voluntary or compulsory — will be required some time this year.

Mr Young would not say how many jobs would be lost.

They will include administration workers, cleaners, groundsmen, technicians, caterers, caretakers, handymen and maintenance workers.

Oxfordshire County Council said it was aware of the difficulties King Alfred’s faced. Detailed proposals are being prepared and consultations with a view to dealing with the situation started last Friday.

The college budget for the financial year had increased from £7,700,000 to £8,100,000.

Mr Young blamed the deficit on a number of things, including rising energy costs, council tax and national insurance.

From September, the period identified on a teacher’s timetable as available for cover will be removed.

Also, in order to achieve a reduction in teaching costs, teaching staff will be given an additional teaching period increase from 35 to 36.

The college, which is attended by 1,745 pupils, including 344 sixth formers, has one principal and two vice-principals, plus a number of heads of department and year groups.

John Mitchell, the county council member for children, young people and families, said: “The council discusses with schools any potential budget deficit and helps them explore options to resolve financial difficulties within the strict frameworks set down by central Government.”