FINANCIAL problems at a Bradford on Avon School mean teachers are to be made redundant.

Major cost-cutting and restructuring at St Laurence School means seven members of staff will not be returning to their jobs in September.

Head teacher Nick Sorensen said: "This is a difficult time for everyone associated with the school especially as it comes so soon after a very positive Ofsted report.

"We will all be working hard to maintain our high standards in the face of a difficult financial situation.

"Redundancies are a serious issue and we will avoid them where possible."

Five members of staff have already agreed to take voluntary redundancy and it is possible changes between now and the next school year, such as staff moving on to other jobs, might mean no-one is made compulsorily redundant.

The school is currently running at a deficit of about £90,000, a problem which Mr Sorensen hopes changes throughout the school will solve in the next three years.

Mike Harrison, secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said the problem of deficit budgets is one that affects many schools.

He said: "Although this year's budget is supposed to be a good one for Wiltshire schools, many are looking to reduce their staffing costs through voluntary redundancies."

Restructuring at the school will mean changes to the registration and tutor system as well as larger classes, moves that have worried many parents of children at the school.

One parent, who did not wish to be named, said: "I have no personal axe to grind. I am just sorry to see an excellent school go down the tubes. If we had a child in year seven or eight we would be going frantic."

Class sizes will rise but Mr Sorensen has stated no classes will exceed 33 and no classes in years 10 and 11 will contain more than 30 pupils.

Several information evenings have been scheduled for parents from Monday.