A SCHOOL which celebrated its best GCSEs last summer is being forced to make nearly half-a-million pounds of cuts — but bosses say the curriculum will still be improved.

Kearsley Academy says £475,000 has to be saved, which is likely to lead to cuts in staff numbers, because of changes in funding.

But school bosses stressed their priority remains to provide high quality education for students — who are said to be applying in record numbers — as they also work to improve their curriculum at the same time.

They said the changes would lead a to a staffing structure which would be “leaner, more sustainable and focused on delivering key changes in curriculum content”.

The proposals include some reduction in working hours for catering and cleaning staff, as well as changes to procurement arrangements.

Staff are being consulted on how the saving can be made before firm proposals are drawn up.

Senior leaders say the school has been generously staffed and that the governors now have to bring staffing costs into line with national “benchmarks”.

Suzanne Pountain, Kearsley Academy’s acting principal, said: “Kearsley’s students achieved their best ever GCSE and A-level results last year, which is a reflection of the commitment and focus of our team.

“We are totally dedicated to the goal of delivering world class education for our students, which offers clear progression routes to employment or higher education.

“We are working toward the academy becoming outstanding and the changes to the organisational structure will enhance our capacity to continue our rapid improvement.”

The school employs 37 teaching staff and 48 support staff, and has just over 500 pupils, including sixth-formers.

If the changes are not made, the school could face a £1 million debt by the end of the academic year.

Ian Hickman, the operational director of Northern Education Trust, which runs the school, said: “It is business as usual at Kearsley.

“We unfortunately inherited low pupil numbers from the failing predecessor school.

“Despite a rapidly increasing student roll, we have been unable to attract the number of students originally planned, so we now find we have a deficit, which we are doing something about.

“Raising attainment is the highest priority because this is key to improving the life chances of our young people and giving them choices in the future.

“This is good housekeeping measure on the part of the governors and the trust.

“Acting now will enable us to secure even more success, such as the 28 young people who this year left Kearsley for university.”

Chairman of governors Mick Farley added: “While this is challenging, just like any service, we must operate within our means.”

He said the school was in contact with the unions and would meet its obligations as well help to secure new employment for those affected.

Julia Simpkins, secretary of the Bolton branch of the National Union of Teachers, said many schools will soon be facing a restructure as the number of pupils attending secondary school falls in the coming years.

She said: “A number of primary schools closed when pupil numbers fell and now that small cohort is coming up to secondary school.

“It is good that secondary schools will not close so that in three or four years time when pupil numbers pick up the schools will be able to grow again."

She criticised government policy, saying that local education authorities are now unable to open new schools where they are needed, meaning that some primary schools in Bolton are now "bursting at the seams".

The number of jobs at risk is not known yet.

Ms Simpkins added: "Voluntary redundancies and other savings will be put forward during the consultation to see how much can be saved first.”