by political editor Paul Francis

Schools in Kent have shed more than 1,300 jobs in just a year, according to figures produced by county education chiefs.

Unions say the scale of the fall in numbers is a direct consequence of schools tightening their belts because of a budget squeeze, with hundreds of support staff such as classroom assistants being made redundant.

According to a snapshot survey of staffing numbers across all county schools, there were 1,364 fewer people employed in March this year compared to March last year.

Of those 1,155 were permanent members of staff with 210 being former staff employed as either supply staff or on a casual basis.

The figures do not represent just job losses but changing staff requirements at schools, with factors such as falling pupil numbers or re-organisations accounting for some.

However, teaching unions say that changes to the way sixth forms are funded through the Young People’s Learning Agency is leaving secondary schools with less money for staff.

The YPLA has taken over funding of post-16 education in schools and colleges.

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Overall, Kent schools employed 30,180 staff in March 2010 but that fell to 28,816 in March this year - a fall of 4.5 per cent.

John Walder, Kent secretary of the NUT, said: "I would not be surprised by these figures.

"I spend an increasing amount of my time going to consultation meetings on redundancies.

"What that shows us is that school budgets are under increasing pressure. Every school’s budget is taken up largely by paying salaries.

"The real problem facing secondary schools is the cut in sixth form money."