MORE than 100 placard-waving protestors gathered outside South Dartmoor College in Ashburton this morning (April 1) to register their anger at massive staff cuts in the pipeline

Parents and pupils lined up outside the Balland Lane school to demonstrate against the radical lay-off plans which could see as many as 50 jobs go across the Academy family of satellite schools.

Teachers’ union spokesman Tim Hodge, who joined the vociferous throng at 9am, said afterwards: ‘The mood of the group was one of anger, shock and bewilderment. They wanted to know why this was happening now.’

The regional joint secretary of the National Education Union (NEU) added: ‘The general funding crisis is one issue – but there is also a complex mix of other matters relating to the management of the Multi Academy Trust.’

Mounting annoyance over the proposed job losses has prompted a Save Our Teachers petition against the cuts with nearly 700 so far signing to show their support for staff under the cosh – 74 throughout the Academy, 43 of them at South Dartmoor.

Admin staff and other non-teaching posts are also in line for the chop. A consultation process to decide where the axe might fall is already underway. It ends on May 8.

One petition signatory said: ‘My daughter is thriving at South Dartmoor because she has some of the best and most dedicated teachers I’ve ever met. If the cuts go ahead, these heroes will be gone.’

Another backed support and non-teaching staff who were, she insisted, ‘vital for the day-to-day smooth running of the schools.’

The Academy includes primary schools in Ashburton, Buckfastleigh, Ilsington, Moretonhampstead, Widecombe and the Atrium Studio attached to the college.

Petition organiser Misha Bryne-Giltrow, a former student at South Dartmoor and a member of sixth form staff, said of the looming lay-offs: ‘This is both unacceptable and deeply concerning – not only for the students but also for the staff.’

She added: ‘The staff are a team. Breaking this up will have a catastrophic impact. Cutting costs can never amount to the importance of good quality education.’

She said her online petition was an expression of support and appreciation for the staff at the Academy.