HEADTEACHERS have pledged to do everything they can to save teachers' jobs and keep class sizes down.

But they warn they won't be able to afford basic building repairs and new teaching materials unless the Government increases school funding in Worcestershire.

Yesterday, the Evening News revealed how cash-strapped schools have already lost more than 100 teachers to other counties, who receive more Government cash. And a quarter of the county's headteachers have warned they are considering axing jobs.

The Chantry High School, in Martley, had saved funds to hire more staff, develop IT resources and reduce teacher workloads this year - but now all the money is being spent on keeping staff in jobs.

"We carried forward money for development projects and had to redirect the funds to more immediate concerns," said headteacher Caroline Browne. "We were going to take on more staff to cut workloads, but because of the financial problems we cannot do that. The lack of funding has certainly cost those jobs and if it continues it will cost more.

"If we hadn't carried forward the money from previous budgets we'd have been £50,000 in the red - that's equivalent to two teachers. If the same happens next year we will be unable to replace our staff."

David Thompson, headteacher at Christopher Whitehead High School, in Bromwich Road, Worcester, was also faced with uncertainty.

"We have one teacher who is leaving and is not being replaced for financial reasons," he said. "But with the cash situation, it's very difficult to predict what will happen in the future.

"What we endeavour to do is put the highest quality and numbers of staff in front of our pupils. That means we can't spend money on things like materials and renovations, so at the moment those things will just have to come second."

And Peter Buchanan, headteacher of Dyson Perrins CE High School, in Yates Hay Road, Malvern, has had his toughest time in a decade of balancing the school budget.

"This is hardest budget I have ever faced," he said. "The day I start making appointments on what I can afford, not on who can do the best job, will be a very sad one for education. But I can see it coming.

"If nothing changes I will have sleepless nights next April."

Worcestershire County Council is currently campaigning for the Government's Area Cost Adjustment grant, worth around £10m, to alleviate schools' cash-flow problems.

n The Evening News would like to hear from teachers and parents who have strong views over the cash crisis facing Worcestershire's schools. Contact Dan Kendrick on 01905 74 22 53 or e-mail him at: dk@thisisworcester.co.uk