STAFF at Wantage’s secondary school claim slashed numbers of support staff have left it at “crisis point”.

Support workers at King Alfred’s Community and Sports College, say redundancies made in the summer to fill a budget black hole had left members overstretched.

The college – Oxfordshire’s first foundation school – axed non-frontline workers to plug a £200,000 budget deficit, which it said was in danger of hitting £600,000 by 2012 if nothing was done.

It has refused to say how many workers were made redundant, but no teachers had left.

Last night support workers said staff morale was at an all-time low, with members “wishing it was Friday as soon as they come in on a Monday”.

One worker, who asked not to be named, said: “This round of cuts has just the staff feeling downtrodden and the atmosphere at the school is appalling.

“It can only have a bad effect on the pupils.

“We need more support from senior members of staff as we’re each having to cover the workload of three members of staff.

“We’re at crisis point – and if it carries on, it will result in children falling behind.

It seems like financial considerations are being put ahead of the children – and that’s unacceptable.”

Another member of staff, who also asked not to be named, said employees were worried there would be further cuts.

They said: “It’s a really grim situation at the moment and some people are very worried.

“Some departments have suffered badly and the pupils are not getting the same service they were getting four months ago.”

A statement released by the school last night said: “We take very seriously our responsibility to our staff and the wider community.

“For that reason, we have put in place a balanced budget. It was the right thing to do to ensure the continued stability of the college as an employer of so many local people.

“Voluntary redundancies have taken place in caretaking, technical support and library staff.

“Compulsory redundancies have taken place in ICT support, exam administration and lunchtime supervision.

A reduction in science technician hours has occurred by natural wastage.”

Principal Nick Young: said “Our 85.3 per cent five A*-C at GCSE level was the best of any state school in Oxfordshire this year and we want to improve further in 2010.

“In this difficult economic climate, we have to use our resources to the best effect.

“We are monitoring our use of technical support in science and design and technology very carefully.”

The college, which has sites in Challow Road, Portway and Springfield Road, became the county’s first foundation school in January 2007, allowing it to own its own buildings and employ its own staff.