LOCAL MP Virginia Bottomley has called for immediate action to solve the teaching crisis in local schools, after receiving "a series of alarming letters".

Last week The Herald highlighted the problems at local schools among them Woolmer Hill in Haslemere, where the headteacher Alan Shean is among those leaving this term.

Teacher shortages at the school led to parents being sent letters from Surrey County Council's director of education Dr Paul Gray warning that there could be part-time teaching from September.

Now Mrs Bottomley has written to schools minister Estelle Morris after receiving a letter from a concerned parent of two children at Woolmer Hill School. He had been warned that pupils could be put on a four-day week if the school fails to find enough teachers for next term.

"All this is causing all my family extreme fear and worry as there seems to be no hope for any improvements in the foreseeable future," said Andrew Kennedy from Fernhurst, after attending his daughter's year 10 parents' consultation evening last week.

"I am absolutely horrified and disgusted that our children's future lies in the balance due to the chaos of the education system at the moment," said Mr Kennedy in his letter to Mrs Bottomley and to Prime Minister Tony Blair.

"My daughter is taking her GCSEs next year and this is the most important time of her life. Her results will be the basis of her future, including progressing to further education, university and then her career. Without the teachers she is not going to make it."

"I have a 12-year-old son at the same school and I cannot bear to think about what kind of education he will get. I am even considering moving into an area where there are minimal staff-level problems and full-time schooling."

Mr Kennedy said he was most worried about a shortage of English teachers at the school.

"The overwhelming problem for teachers appears to be the cost of living and buying or renting a property.

"This is against the miserly wage, especially for a newly qualified teacher, who gets paid £17,500 on average which will get a mortgage of £52,500!"

Mrs Bottomley said in her letter to Estelle Morris: "As the MP for south west Surrey for 17 years, I have never received such a high level of correspondence concerning the predicament of the teaching profession and our local schools."

She said the situation was "simply unacceptable".

"I urge you to consider immediate action to remedy the retention crisis that threatens to paralyse the quality and quantity of public education in Surrey.

"The prospect of a four-day week and a reduced timetable in many local schools in September is not something any of us wish to contemplate," said Mrs Bottomley.

Simon Sherbourne, the deputy head of Woolmer Hill School, where there were still five vacancies to fill this week, told The Herald that the school had appointed a new English teacher and was hoping with the help of a video conference to interview three South African teachers from an agency.

On Wednesday, Woolmer Hill was still looking for another English teacher along with teachers in mathematics, science and technology.

"We still have irons in the fire and hoping the matter will be resolved. We have always been able to attract good quality staff," said Mr Sherbourne.

"We are optimistic that if we don't fill the vacancies we will have cover staff in place, but that may not be by September," he warned.

In Haslemere and the surrounding area, schools have had to fill a record number of teacher vacancies as well as successfully replacing four headteachers, at Woolmer Hill School, Beacon Hill Primary School, St Mary's Primary School, Chiddingfold, and Chandler's Primary at Witley.