A primary school is to make more than 20 staff redundant and ask parents to pay for their children's stationery because of a cash crisis.

Temple Sutton Primary School, the largest in Essex, is hoping to clear a crippling £200,000 deficit.

Headteacher Frank Gulley was forced to tell workers the news today in a meeting at the school in Eastern Avenue, Southend.

Mr Gulley said: "It's disgraceful. This is a very sad day for our school and all of our staff are going to be hit hard by this. It will be very difficult deciding who stays and who goes."

Michelle Glen, 42, has worked at the school for five years and as a part time librarian for the last two.

Troubled - Temple Sutton pupils arrive for lessons today Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

Her nine-year-old daughter Joanna also attends the school. She said: "It's abysmal the way we have been treated.

"It's terrible that the Government has put our headteacher in this position. Why can't we find the money to educate our children?

Chairman of the governors Alan Carey said "swingeing cuts in all budget headings" had already been made. The extra redundancies were to "reduce our budget deficit".

Meanwhile, it was revealed that falling pupil numbers could force the merger of more infant and junior schools.

Published Thursday, June 19, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Echo