A number of teaching posts will be cut at a Shrewsbury college – just over a year after 18 members of staff lost their jobs.
Around 20 employees at Shrewsbury College received letters last Thursday from the college management inviting them to apply for a voluntary redundancy package.
The move, which affects class teachers, has been taken in a bid to make ‘modest savings’, and those who accept redundancy offers will leave in August.
The move has been met with anger by union officials, who have written to college bosses demanding a meeting to discuss the proposed cuts.
It has not yet been confirmed how many teachers will lose their jobs.
In February last year the Chronicle revealed 18 top level teaching posts were being axed at the college as part of a management shake-up.
The college is at the centre of £60 million plans to create a co-located college campus at the London Road site, although college officials have insisted the job cuts are not connected to the project.
Bob Hill, college representative for the Universities and Colleges’ Union, said the move was aimed at teaching staff and was aimed at a small number of departments.
He said: “This is starting to become something of an annual event. We have written a letter to the principal asking for him to discuss the issues with us and to put a block on anything affecting individuals until this meeting has taken place.”
Richard Banks, director of human and physical resources at Shrewsbury College, said: “We are looking to make some relatively modest savings by proposing to remove a small number of teaching roles. We are in the process of asking people potentially affected what their wishes would be in the interest of voluntary severance.”
Exclusive by Peter Kitchen,
Acting News Editor, Shrewsbury Chronicle.