TEACHING jobs are in danger due to a lack of funding, with one Southend school facing a £664,000 shortfall.

Headteacher Andrew James, from Chase High School, Prittlewell Chase, fears schools will have no choice but to cut staff numbers with pupils suffering as a result.

Figures analysed by the School Cuts campaign group show a £5.4billion cut in school budgets nationally.

In Southend, only six of the borough’s 47 schools have not faced a dip in funding for pupils, according to the group.

Mr James said: “It is my sincere hope the Government will heed the many voices of school leaders who are calling out for meaningful funding increases in the spending review because action is needed urgently to help the current generation of learners.

“Many school budgets have been hit hard again for the next academic year and that it is only through addressing staffing cuts that school leaders are able to fend off the need to set a deficit budget.

“I am always impressed by my headteacher colleagues who ensure the cuts minimise the impact on the pupils.”

Mr James was one of six Southend headteachers who, along with MPs, went to the Houses of Parliament earlier this month to discuss the lack of funding.

He said: “My own message was summed up by the statement – ‘keeping school income per pupil the same as last year is simply inadequate in the face of the many substantial rises in expenditure that we are facing at this time’.

Chase High School has had a shortage of £619 per pupil.

Shoeburyness High School was down by £567,152.

Jerry Glazier, Essex National Education Union branch secretary, said: “This continues to be an intolerable situation. The level that children and young people are continued to be short changed by a Government that believes education can be run on a shoestring budget, beggars belief.

“School class sizes are increasing, teachers and support staff are being reduced, building repairs are being left undone, subjects are being dropped from the curriculum and teachers are having to pay out of their own pocket for items such as text books and glues sticks. This situation cannot go on.”

James Duddridge, Tory councillor for Rochford and Southend East, claimed funding is up and the figures from campaigners are wrong.

He claimed the Department for Education figures show a much more positive picture.

Sir David Amess, Conservative MP for Southend West, said: “A number of headteachers have raised issues with me concerning school funding.

“Some headteachers have also encouraged parents to contact me.

“Consequently, there has already been a meeting between representatives of headteachers of secondary schools in Southend and the Schools Minister, Nick Gibb.

“During this meeting heads vigorously and constructively raised many of the points that the unions have now repeated.

“It is my intention to arrange a similar meeting between the Minister for Schools and the heads of primary and special schools.

“The purpose of these meetings is to explore both sides’ arguments re funding and to move forward in the sure knowledge that everyone’s aim is for the fair funding of our schools so that they are able to continue with the excellent education that they provide our young people.”

For more information on Essex schools and the figures from campaigners visit www.schoolcuts.co.uk