HEADTEACHERS have warned of a cash and staffing crisis this September, as a quarter of schools prepare to axe teaching jobs.

Cash-strapped schools have already lost 100 teachers to neighbouring counties, a survey of Worcestershire headteachers has revealed

The teachers have moved to Birmingham, Warwickshire and Gloucestershire - where schools receive a bigger slice of Government cash - in the last year.

Almost a quarter of school heads said they could be forced to lose teachers as they will not be able to pay them, and 32 per cent are planning not to replace posts which fall vacant.

Phil McTague, chairman of the Worcestershire Headteachers' Forum, which conducted the survey, said a reduction in teaching staff would result in larger class sizes and pupils would be affected.

"Larger class sizes will mean difficulty offering a full complement of support to children.

"Worcestershire teachers work so very hard and they will be working significantly harder to maintain standards expected by the public.

"Worcestershire schools are in a very difficult position and there isn't a lot of fat to cut.

"It's almost bizarre that in a climate of recruitment difficulties Worcestershire is having to lose staff."

Mid Worcestershire MP Peter Luff has stepped up his calls for the county to be paid extra cash through the controversial Area Cost Adjustment. This could be worth £10m a year.

He has asked for a meeting with the Forum to discuss the "very worrying results".

"These figures certainly bear out the anguish being expressed to me by many small and middle schools in my constituency, who are planning to cut both teaching and classroom assistant posts," he said.

"Many schools will just survive this year. However, I am beginning to become very fearful indeed about next year."

And Worcester's Directorate of Education agreed the survey highlighted danger signs for the county.

"We have always managed to retain teachers very well, but this does show that where they can live in Worcestershire and work in other counties they are beginning to consider the option," said Adrian Hardman, cabinet member for resources.

"I have never heard of our teachers going to Gloucestershire before, but, as this is their first year having the ACA, it could well become a bigger problem in the future. The survey once again strengthens our case for the additional funding.

"Last year, 12 schools had a deficit budget, but this year, 50 have a deficit budget."

But city Labour MP Mike Foster, who is pressing for a meeting with Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford to discuss the case for ACA, said it must be treated with caution.

He pointed out teachers in Worcestershire actually earned more cash than in neighbouring counties, even though other LEAs received more money overall.

"This survey could be just what we need to take to the Minister - but we have got to be sure," he said. "If the Government is looking at Worcestershire and finds we lost 100 teachers, but gained 200, our case will be dismissed.

"An extra £10m is at stake for Worcestershire's schools and I am not going to run at it."