STAFF cuts are feared at Chepstow School which has the highest level of deficit of comprehensives in Monmouthshire, councillors were told.

The school is said to be £373,000 in debt by the end of the year, £21,000 worse than previously thought.

Monmouthshire council said it is to review the recovery plan which the school has prepared.

Cllr David Dovey, member for St. Kingsmark and Cllr Armand Watts, member for Thornwell, criticised the level of debt at a Monmouthshire council economy and development select committee.

Cllr David Dovey said: “The figure of £373,000 at the end of the year - governors are very anxious about this.

"I would like to believe that it is handled with even more urgency than maybe it is by the council.”

Cllr Dovey had concerns for the catchment area of Chepstow School and said it was ‘inadequate’ for the number of pupils at the school.

A catchment review is set to take place next year.

Cllr Armand Watts said: “I remember four years ago Chepstow School had one of the highest deficit of all comprehensives in Monmouthshire and comparatively was in the top 10 in Wales that was in the £200,000 mark and then it changed it was almost overnight it had a miraculously recovery and got rid of the debt.

"However this year from out of nowhere the school is in huge debt and has to be by far highest level of debt of any single comprehensive in Monmouthshire.”

He added: “I would say this is a kind of financial crisis in that school.

“How can a recovery plan be put in place with that significant level of debt? My concern is staff cuts and that would obviously affect the quality of education the children get.”

Mark Howcroft, assistant head of finance at the council, told the committee: “A lot of issues in Chepstow School are related to the catchment area.

"It is one of the smaller catchment areas in Monmouthshire.

“I will be attending a finance meeting with the prospect of looking to do a robust recovery plan with the size of the deficit it is going to need a significant change.”

He added: “Part of that consideration will likely be staffing as 80 per cent of costs of school is in relation to staff.”

Cllr Phil Murphy, cabinet member for finance, said: “There is a considerate amount of work being done on Chepstow School.

"Chepstow School has been very successful latterly in increasing pupil numbers in particularly those going across to Wyedean have come back.

“The big problem for Chepstow School is a historical problem of unwise budgetary decisions within that school.”

The school’s budget will go before the Children and Young People’s Select Committee today.