CONCERNS have been raised over the future of staff members at Bryn Hafren Comprehensive and Barry Comprehensive schools, ahead of their merger next September.

The National Education Union (NEU) have warned that a lack of clarity over whether current staff will remain in their posts next year is causing anxiety for employees and parents alike.

Mairead Canavan, NEU division secretary for the Vale of Glamorgan, said: “This is a matter of great concern to Wales' largest education union and we would like stakeholders to receive assurances that the education their children will receive will be robust and well structured.”

A spokesman for the Vale of Glamorgan Council said: “The council is aware of the potential anxieties that can be caused in these circumstances and have been working closely with the executive headteacher and the governing bodies to minimise these.

“Formal consultation on draft staffing structures for the two new schools began on 20 November and since then the executive headteacher has attended 24 separate meetings with staff at the schools.

“It has been stressed that we do not currently anticipate that there will be any compulsory redundancies when the new schools are established. However, final pupil numbers, demand for certain subjects, and the schools’ final budget settlements could all yet affect this and so it would be irresponsible to give guarantees at this stage.

“It is hoped that the picture will be much clearer early in the New Year. Once this is the case the governing bodies will move to appoint staff as quickly as possible and bring any uncertainty to an end.”