PARENTS and politicians have expressed their concerns over the future of a primary school after six members of staff lost their jobs.

Three teaching assistants and three dinner ladies with almost 70 year of combined service have been made redundant at Hurworth Primary School, just outside Darlington.

The Northern Echo: JOB CUTS: Hurworth Primary School Picture: Google

Hurworth Primary School Picture: Google

In a letter sent out to parents, Alison Maddison, headteacher at the school, said the loss to the "school family will be huge".

"Every member of staff leaving has brought something unique and special and they will be greatly missed.

"Please be reassured that your children’s safety, well-being and education is still our main priority and this will not be affected at all.

But Paul Walters, chair of Hurworth Parish Council, and Lorraine Tostevin, Hurworth ward councillor, both voiced their concerns over the decision.

Mr Walters said: "I am concerned there will be a detrimental effect on the children at the school.

"I spoke to some of the staff and they are upset and I think the way it was done was very insensitive.

"With another 200 houses being built in the village all those children living their going to the school in the next few years, I think the decision is very short sighted."

Cllr Tostevin said she understood parents concerns relating to the impact the redundancies would have on the children, saying it was "inevitable".

Phil Wilson, MP for Sedgefield, added the job losses were further proof that funding cuts were having a "chronic" effect on children's education.

Nick Blackburn, chief executive of Lingfield Education Trust, said: “As most people are aware, funding for schools is extremely challenging and the government’s current funding commitment for schools is not adequate.

“Lingfield Education Trust has protected Hurworth School from this issue to date because of the effective way budgets have been managed, but funding cuts now mean that we have been unfortunately been forced to take steps to reduce costs.

“Hurworth School recently received a very positive Ofsted report and our priority continues to be on the excellent quality of education for our children. We will also continue to lobby decision makers on school funding issues, along with other senior school leaders, in future.”

Mike Parker, Director of Schools North-East, said: “Schools are facing a chronic funding shortfall which is forcing heads and governing bodies to take incredibly tough decisions.

“It is vital that communities get behind schools in these difficult times and pressure the Chancellor Philip Hammond and the Treasury to properly fund our children’s education.”