A ‘FUNDING crisis’ has been blamed for staff cutbacks at a well-reputed Oxfordshire school, which reportedly saw teachers reduced to tears in front of students.

The Henry Box School in Witney has blamed the Government for the ‘relentless impact’ of overstretched budgets, and has informed some teachers they could be made redundant before the end of term.

Though the Department for Education insists a new national funding formula should see Oxfordshire schools £10.5m better off, the school’s head Wendy Hemmingsley said it is not enough to cover increasing staff costs of pensions, National Insurance and teacher pay rises.

The secondary school and sixth form educates 1,226 students and lists about 70 members of teaching staff on its website, though it has not revealed how many face job loss.

Ms Hemmingsley said: “Schools are facing a funding crisis and we are not alone in being affected by the shortage.

“There is progressively less money left for other things in school as more and more of the school funding is eaten up by rising employment costs.

"The Government’s policy is forcing schools like ours to make cuts year after year without any regard for the relentless impact this is having on people working really hard to educate students and make a difference to lives.

“Some school staff and governors have found this year’s cost reductions particularly hard to comprehend and the effect on wellbeing is quite marked.”

Ms Hemmingsley said the school had been gradually cutting spending in the past few years and had made 'difficult decisions'.

She added: “We are reviewing our school leadership structures as a way to save staffing costs and by not replacing staff when they have left, which has helped to reduce the likelihood of redundancies.

“However it is very likely that by the end of this academic year the school may have to make further redundancies.”

The academy is run by the Mill Academy Trust, which also runs Queen Emma’s Primary School in Witney and Finstock Primary School near Charlbury.

Henry Box and Ms Hemmingsley were heaped with praise by Ofsted in January, which rated it ‘good’, but did note there had been a ‘difficult period of staff turbulence’.

The trust’s annual accounts published in January reveal £35,271 was spent on redundancy payments in 2016-17, which Ms Hemmingsley said were compulsory redundancies for non-teaching staff.

She did not state how many face redundancy this time, nor from which departments they are from.

It is understood some staff, governors and parents do not agree with the cuts, however, and last month the school's chair of governors and finance governor stepped down.

Ms Hemmingsley, who is also chief executive of the trust, said: “It is unrealistic to assume that implementing staffing reductions and major changes in school operations will not have an effect on staff morale and wellbeing."

One parent of a pupil, who asked not to be named, said she felt the changes had been 'hushed up' and parents were not told why governors resigned.

She said: "There are lots of upset staff, governors and parents - it's not good for pupils during exams.

"We are very sad about the way this is being so poorly managed.

"Staff were made redundant and students saw teachers in tears."

The mother said she knew of parents pulling their children out of the school, particularly the sixth form.

She added: "Some of the Year 11s have created a list of all the teachers that are leaving and there are serious questions about viability of some A-Level courses for next year.

"Students are very concerned."

It is understood the regional schools commissioner, who oversees academy schools, and Witney MP Robert Courts are aware of concerns.

The school’s interim chair of governors Ric Mellis said: “We are aware some parents are concerned about stories they might have heard about difficulties at Henry Box.

“Governors are doing everything they can to make sure any difficulties are resolved quickly and in the best interests of the students.”

Ms Hemmingsley stressed it remains the school's ‘highest priority’ to provide students the education they deserve and ensure they fulfill their potential.

Henry Box joins a long list of Oxfordshire schools to cite funding as a key concern.

Last month the Oxford Mail revealed Wolvercote Primary School in Oxford had turned to parents for donations in a bid to boost funds.

In February the head of Lord Williams’s School in Thame, David Wybron, warned the 'devastating impact' of depleting funds could force schools to lay off teachers.

The Department for Education maintains the new funding formula will increase Oxfordshire school funds by three per cent on average.