THE number of "super-teachers" in York is to be drastically reduced because of budget cuts.

There are currently about 30 of the teachers - known as advanced skills teachers - in the city's schools, but the number is expected to drop to nine.

These teachers demonstrate exceptional teaching abilities and share their skills with other schools.

About 15 of the teachers were due to finish this year, which would have left about 15. The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) was prepared to give £453,000 to City of York Council, but the money had to be matched.

The council was unable to do this, and instead allocated a smaller sum of £180,000. Coun Janet Looker, the council's executive member for education, said: "We liked the scheme and have done very well with it and had a lot of advanced skills teachers.

"It is a disappointment that we could not take it further, but we have to weigh up the priorities. Some schools are looking at whether they can taken on one or two with their own budgets, but that is uncertain."

The council is facing a £1.9million gap in the education budget, which could see primary schools losing out on £5,000 and secondary schools losing £15,000.

The council had expected a six per cent increase in funding from the Government, but will only receive 4.3 per cent, leaving a shortfall of £1.1million.

The council has been contacted by the DfES inquiring why the scheme was being cut. Coun Charles Hall, the Lib Dem education spokesman, said: "I find it astonishing that the DfES which promoted 'Education, Education, Education' should be cutting the highly-successful AST scheme and transferring the responsibility to already cash-strapped LEAs.

"I am also somewhat alarmed that the DfES should need to contact us to ask why York is being forced into making these changes. Surely the government should be aware of its own cutbacks."

Updated: 08:56 Friday, March 28, 2003