AS local schools struggle to fill teaching vacancies, parents of pupils at Woolmer Hill School have been warned that pupils could face part-time schooling in September.

"It would absolutely be a last resort and not a preferred option of my successor or the governors," said headteacher Alan Shean, who retires at the end of term.

Mr Shean told The Herald that a letter from Surrey County Council's director of education Dr Paul Gray had been sent out to parents of more than 500 pupils this week, warning of the crisis in Surrey schools.

Mr Shean, who is one of four headteachers in the Haslemere area to either call it a day or move on to new schools this month, said that there were still six vacancies in English, mathematics, science and technology to fill at Woolmer Hill.

He said there were a number of options for new head Susan Bullen to consider.

"We could use supply teachers or agency staff and that would be done initially," said Mr Shean. But he assured parents that Woolmer Hill School would not be compromising its high standards.

"If applicants are not up to the job they would not be appointed," said Mr Shean, who is still interviewing prospective teachers, hopeful that the posts would be filled by next term.

The school, which has a full complement of 40 full and part-time teachers, has had to find replacement teachers for 13 posts starting in September.

Mr Shean said that was "slightly higher than normal".

He said part-time teaching was a worst case scenario. "We are not expecting to have to do it but I can't rule it out."

Head teachers at Beacon Hill, St Mary's, Chiddingfold, and Chandler School, Witley, are also leaving this term.

Veronica Martin, who has been at Beacon Hill School for three-and-a-half years, is taking early retirement to spend more time with her family.

Liz Caudwell from Chiddingfold is moving to a larger school in Kent and Nick Austin from Chandlers is moving out of the classroom to work an an independent education consultant.

At Bohunt School in Liphook, head Alan Taylor-Bennett said that it would be fully staffed in September but admitted that the school had spent heavily on advertising its 15 vacant posts.

With 80 teachers, Mr Taylor-Bennett agreed that Bohunt was bucking the latest trend, by "working very hard and finding ways to make teachers feel valued".

Chrstine McCracken, headteacher at St Bartholomew's Primary School in Haslemere, said that several teachers were leaving "because they cannot afford to work and live in such an expensive party of the country.

"We have been successful in being able to recruit excellent teachers including two from the USA," said Mrs McCracken.

But she warned: "There are serious implications for curriculum and class organisation and the Department for Education and Skills urgently needs to consider the long-term impact of this crisis on educational standards.

"We require urgent action, not political propaganda and need to celebrate education and value teachers," she said.

In his letter to parents of pupils attending Surrey-maintained schools, director of education Dr Gray admits that the situation this year "is the worst I have ever experienced.

"Throughout the summer period the local education authority will continue to support our schools in seeking to fill all current vacancies. However, it would be unrealistic to expect all posts to be filled by the beginning of the new academic year - there are simply insufficient teachers to meet all of our needs."

Dr Gray warned that schools "will respond to any staff shortages they have in different ways and, probably at short notice.

"It may be necessary to make changes to the way classes are organised, the number of subjects offered and even the length of the school week," he added.

Dr Gray said that while he did not wish to be "alarmist", he wanted to be open and realistic with parents.

"Next term is going to be a challenging one for us all and I ask you for your understanding and forbearance in any action your headteacher and governors may need to take."