A TRADE Union boss has warned that plans to make 20 teachers and other workers at a Burnley superschool redundant will leave it with a “skeleton staff”.

Elaine Cotterell, Unison Lancashire Branch Secretary, is concerned about the future viability of Hameldon Community College.

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The school on Coal Clough Lane, is seeking to make the equivalent of 11 teachers and nine support staff redundant – more than a third of its workforce.

MP Gordon Birtwistle is seeking an emergency meeting with head teacher Gill Broom and Lancashire County Council education chiefs.

Ms Cotterell said: “We are deeply concerned about the potential job losses.

“Support staff play a vital role in the education and development of pupils.

“It would be unfair to our members and to pupils to try to run the school with only a skeleton staff.

“Unison are in discussions with the college.

“Our intervention has prompted a meeting early in the New Year.

“We remain hopeful of reaching a satisfactory outcome.”

The school, which has only 342 pupils for 750 places, faces a deficit of £2.24 million.

Miss Broom said: “Making sure that our students receive A high standard of education and pastoral care will always be our highest priority.”