SCHOOLS in and around Haslemere have been saved from threats of staff redundancies - despite widespread problems blamed on government budget cuts.

Local headteachers claimed this week that careful management and cost-saving schemes have helped to overcome the problems from the restructuring of teachers' pay scales and the significant rise in pensions and national insurance payments.

For Woolmer Hill in Haslemere, where there are around 600 children, gaining technology status last year attracted extra funding which has saved the day.

A spokesman for the school said it had "offset any budgeting problems and the school will be fully staffed in September".

Headteacher at Bohunt in Liphook, Alan Taylor-Bennett, described recent months at the school as the hardest he had known financially since he took over the headship five years ago.

He is planning to increase the pupil intake by an additional 18 in a bid to increase funds.

"There is less money in the budget, but it isn't the local authority's fault because the amount coming through from the top of the system has significantly reduced. I don't think the LEA is holding any funds back deliberately.

"Schools have less money than ever before because there is less income but more and more expenditure. So we are looking to increase the roll to give us a more useful amount of money."

Mr Taylor-Bennett has not needed to make any staff redundant, which he attributes to tight budget control and sensible management.

"Many schools are now well-run institutions with small reserves which they use in times of crisis. But we have had to tighten our belts.

"We had a building project in mind for sometime in the next three years, which has been deferred to about four years now.

"One thing you don't want to do is lose teaching staff because losing all that expertise and experience is such a waste. Some schools cut costs by employing younger teachers, but I would never try to save money that way. I want the very best here and employ the best person for the job."

Local schools receive funding from the Local Education Authority and the Standards Fund, which is paid directly to schools by the Department for Education and Skills.

Mr Taylor-Bennett's sentiments are echoed by headteacher of Fernhurst School, Lynn Rackham.

"We have been affected but you can't really pinpoint exactly in which situation it is most noticeable. The major effects will be noticed next year when the government will cut the Standards Fund Grant which the school relies upon to provide additional staffing and admin support and provides money for training.

"Nationally the rolls are falling in primary schools and these budget cuts have really exaggerated the problem. It's definitely been hard; we've had to look very carefully at our budget and really prune everything."

The headteacher at Rodborough School, John Latham, also admitted to finding the present financial situation difficult but stressed that no redundancies were necessary. "We are looking at ways to use every last penny."

Christine McCracken, St Bartholomew's School's headteacher, claimed that the budget cuts amounted to schools having to "do much more for less.

"St Bartholomew's C of E Primary School currently has a full complement of teaching and support staff. Pupil numbers determine future staffing levels. If numbers substantially increase then extra staff will be required.

"However, if numbers decrease, then pupil/teacher ratios need to be reviewed due to the fact that pupil numbers are linked to funding and the school budget."

Surrey county councillor and executive member for children and young people, Kay Hammond, stressed that the total funding for schools in Surrey has increased this year by 12 per cent for secondary schools and by more than 10 per cent for primaries. She said that Surrey LEA is spending more than the Department for Education and Skills(DfES) has advised.

"We are putting an extra £3 million into schools. Despite this, schools are struggling to balance their books. The reason, quite simply is that there has been a massive increase in staff costs, due to the restructuring of teachers' pay scales and significant rises in pensions and national insurance payments. These factors are beyond the control of individual schools and the local education authorities.

"Education authorities right across the country are facing this problem to a greater or lesser degree."