Jobs will be lost in primary schools dotted across Colchester as head teachers face up to major cuts in budgets for next year.

And in an unprecedented move, heads have passed a vote of no confidence in Essex County Council officers to provide necessary funding.

Projected budgets for 1999/2000 fail to cover the cost of services the schools provide.

Shortfalls in allowances range from £30,000 to £70,000, according to the Tendring and Colchester Group of Foundation and Aided Schools, which were formerly grant maintained.

Heads now fear they have no option other than to dismantle the recent improvements made on behalf of their pupils.

Nigel Powis, head at St Andrew's Church of England Primary, Weeley, and Dan Ryan, head at Holland Park Primary, Clacton, today issued a joint statement on behalf of the group.

"The vote of no confidence is a serious step and the decision was not taken lightly," they said.

"Schools are being driven into a corner and forced to consider issues which can only be to the detriment of the children in their care."

They added head teachers and school governors would now be looking for support for more cash from Government ministers.

The heads have written to Paul Lincoln, director of learning services for the local education authority.

Mike Barnett, education spokesman for Essex County Council, said schools were still getting better funding than in many other counties.

He said: "For many years the grant maintained schools have received preferential funding - and have been significantly better off than locally managed schools and that reflected Government policy.

"The current Government has now brought their funding back into line with other schools."

Mr Barnett added that the latest figures available showed Essex primary and secondary schools were better funded than in most other counties and he was confident that would remain the case.

"We are spending above the level recommended by the Government on education," he said. "Quite simply the no confidence vote is not relevant."

The primary schools which have signed the vote of no confidence are:

Brinkley Grove, High Woods, Colchester

Mersea Island School

Lawford Church of England

Great Totham School

Holland Haven, Holland-on-Sea

Coppins Green, Clacton

Walton School

Engaines, Little Clacton

St Clare's Roman Catholic, Clacton

Rolph Church of England, Thorpe

St Osyth Church of England

St Andrew's, Weeley

Holland Park, Clacton.

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