A school has denied it was operating amid a teaching crisis despite moves to recruit seven new members of staff.

Furtherwick Park School on Canvey is advertising for new teachers in maths, English, RE, science, information and communications technology and geography as well as a new head of creative arts.

Despite the seemingly high number of vacant positions the level was described as "normal" by the member of staff organising recruitment.

Dorothy Thomas, personal adviser at the school, said: "This is just a normal recruitment schools go through at this time of the year.

"We have not got any staffing problems and there is certainly no crisis - this is no way an unusual number of vacancies."

Mrs Thomas claimed the school often starts recruiting around Easter time in preparation for the new academic year in September.

Published Wednesday, March 20, 2002