Cuts to academy staff in Kidbrooke leading to 17 redundancies have sparked fears over the support available for vulnerable kids.

A total of nine Halley Academy staff have had their roles cut, with another eight taking voluntary redundancy, it has been confirmed.

Formerly Corelli College, the school in Corelli Road was originally Kidbrooke School – Britain’s first purpose-built comprehensive school.

It is understood that 11 teaching assistants, four learning mentors and four support staff were in line to be axed, with one TA job now being retained and two taking up new roles.

The Leigh Academy Trust, which runs the school, said job losses were a “last resort” as the National Education Union blasted the move for axing care for kids with special educational needs.

Under the new regime, nine teaching assistants will care for 160 students who have been identified as needing extra support.

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Tim Woodcock, Greenwich NEU district secretary, said: “Every child matters and has a right to a good education.

“According to LAT these children do not deserve extra support. LAT believes that one TA per year group is acceptable. The staff know that this cannot work.

“Teachers recognise how vitally important support staff are to achieving a good education and they know their workload will increase dramatically if these cuts go ahead.

“We cannot stand back and let these cuts happen if we want children to succeed and flourish.”

Following industrial action last week, another strike day is planned on Thursday (April 4) with a public meeting at the Samuel Montague Centre also being scheduled for tonight (April 3).

A spokesman for the LAT said vulnerable students will continue to be supported despite job losses.

The trust said: “Despite making significant savings elsewhere the pressure of rising costs such as energy and salaries, a new national funding formula, a drop in pupil numbers and the backdrop of ever-tightening school budgets, have resulted in us having to review staffing across the school to avoid a deficit.

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“With regard to concerns about the support to vulnerable students, we can confirm that specialist SEN advisor’s have been continually working with the leadership team at The Halley Academy to ensure that SEN facilities and support are re-organised in such a way to ensure that vulnerable students receive the support they need to do well.

“We are confident that the changes being brought in after the Easter break will improve the support available to them.”

The trust was being considered to take over Sherington Primary School last year before governors backtracked.