Last updated at 16:06, Wednesday, 06 March 2013

COLLEGE staff are facing job losses due to falling student numbers.

Barrow Sixth Form College is in a consultation period over proposed redundancies for support and teaching staff.

Principal David Batten said the college, in Rating Lane, may have around six voluntary redundancies, and possibly one compulsory redundancy, this year, as part of plans to reduce its spending by around £360,000.

He said is it largely due to the falling number of students in the year groups.

Mr Batten said: “Over recent years the size of the cohort has reduced significantly and further reductions are expected for the next few years.

“In addition to this, entitlement funding was cut a few years ago and the transitional protection for this is still being reduced. Also, there is a new funding formula being introduced which will cut funding even more.”

The principal said the college has to be cautious and manage spending to match the declines in projected income.

Mr Batten said: “Unfortunately this will mean redundancies, but this has been managed by consultation with the staff to reduce the need for compulsory redundancies. We will probably have around six voluntary redundancies this year and will be sorry to lose some valued and skilled colleagues.

“We are still working so that no compulsory redundancies become necessary; however if they are, we expect there to be one at most. These are difficult times, but colleagues continue to work professionally to a very high standard to maintain outstanding results for our students.”

Meanwhile a consultation of proposed redundancies of 38 support staff at Furness Academy, in Barrow, is ongoing.

It follows a senior leadership restructure and redundancy programme to reduce staffing in those areas by 30 per cent. The academy is a split site school, with buildings at North Site, in Thorncliffe Road, and South Site, in West Avenue. From September 1,200 students will be taught in a £22.5m new-build off Park Drive at South Site.

First published at 15:54, Wednesday, 06 March 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk