A grammar school in Chatham is cutting 14 jobs as part of a plan to make £272,000 worth of savings after funding cuts.

The Messenger has received a copy of a letter, which was sent to staff at Fort Pitt Grammar School, from head teacher, Nick Watkiss, outlining the plans and reasons for the cuts.

While some of the lost jobs involve teaching posts, the school is creating six positions including a vacancy for a personal assistant for the head teacher and chief executive.

In the letter Mr Watkiss wrote that the “funding formula” for schools had changed and that the Education Funding Agency had not provided the £100,000 school bosses were expecting, so they had been left with a substantial deficit from the last academic year.

He added that this year, the school was facing a further overspend of £51,000 and, due to a reduction in annual education services grants, the budget for 2016/17 would be reduced to around £129,000.

Based on those figures, Mr Watkiss wrote that the school had to make the £272,000 savings to bring the school out of deficit by the end of the next academic year. Cuts include not replacing teachers who have left, reducing caretaking hours, reducing invigilator hours and renegotiating all contracts when they are up for renewal.

The 14 jobs lost include two geography teachers and four house managers who provide support for pupils. In the letter, Mr Watkiss wrote: “I very much regret that it has been necessary for me to put these proposals to you but I can assure you that there are no alternative solutions at this stage.

“I would emphasise that the senior leadership team and I will endeavour to support and assist all colleagues during this process and if there are any changes to the original proposals, they will be communicated to you without hesitation.

“I can assure you that the school will give full consideration to all alternatives, which may avoid or minimise any compulsory redundancies or mitigate the effects of any such dismissals.”

The school is also looking at different methods of generating income such as renting out facilities and applying for grants.

Mr Watkiss said: “Many schools up and down the country are seeing reductions in their funding levels and in particular the funding for grammar schools. In response, Fort Pitt has introduced a range of savings which aim to reduce the administrative and back office costs of running the school.

“The measures will not impact on learning and are designed to maintain our position as an outstanding school but operating within reduced funding levels.”