Three teachers, a quarter of the entire staff at a York infant school, have lost their jobs, it was confirmed today.

Union leaders confirmed appeals against the three redundancies at Carr Infant School, which have been on-going for the last month, had been rejected.

As reported in the Evening Press, the school said the redundancies were necessary because of falling numbers caused by a drop in the local birth rate and a budget shortfall of £75,000.

Noel Hulse, secretary of the York branch of the National Union of Teachers, said today one of the teachers had already found another teaching job elsewhere in York.

He said he was "hopeful" the other two would also be able to find work in other schools in the city.

In the past, schools have been able to save teachers from redundancy by arranging voluntary transfers to other schools or through teachers taking early retirement.

York-based education pressure group Campaign For Real Education (CRE) says the redundancies could have been avoided and fears they will lead to increased class sizes.

CRE chairman Nick Seaton is now calling for a public meeting to allow parents and teachers to voice their concerns.

But head teacher, Ann McKeown, has stressed that while the falling numbers of pupils would mean them being grouped together in fewer classes, class sizes will still be within Government guidelines.

And education chiefs at the City of York Council claim funding has risen by almost £300 per pupil.

Assistant director of education, Liz Jones, said: "In this year's budget, Carr has benefited from a real terms increase in funding for pupils," she said.

"In 1997/8, the funding per pupil was £1675, in 1998/9 it will be £1964 showing the council's commitment to put more resources into the primary sector.

"Additionally, as a result of the council's successful bid for funding, there will be an additional teacher over and above what could have been anticipated to keep class sizes down.

"We should be all looking forward to support the head teacher, her staff, the school governors and, most importantly, the pupils and parents in securing the future of the school."

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