JOB cuts at St Neots Community College will have a detrimental impact on student education and plans to get the college out of special measures, union officials have claimed. Unison is fighting the proposals to cut teaching staff at the college in Barfo

JOB cuts at St Neots Community College will have a "detrimental impact on student education" and plans to get the college out of special measures, union officials have claimed.

Unison is fighting the proposals to cut teaching staff at the college in Barford Road, Eynesbury.

As previously reported in The Hunts Post, 11 teaching posts and four assistant teacher jobs are to be shed at the college, which has nearly 70 employees.

However, a reduction in pupil numbers has left the college with excess staff.

Headteacher Scott Preston has said he did not anticipate the job cuts having an impact on students or courses.

But Unison said the redundancies should alarm parents because it will leave students who require additional education support without the help they need.

Unison officer Peter Gaskin also criticised the college's move to reduce teaching assistant hours from 32.5 to 28.5 hours per week.

St Neots Community College was placed in special measures last year and in September its management will be merged with Longsands College to form a federation.

Cambridgeshire County Council has also written off the college's debt to ensure it has a fresh start and as staff work to get the college out of special measures.