A HEADTEACHER is resigning amid controversy over staff restructuring at her school.

Brenda Watson is due to leave specialist sports college, the William Edwards School on Stifford Clays Road, Grays, this summer.

She denied the move followed a vote of no confidence from the staff in the board of governors, which she is part of.

A staff member, who didn't want to be named, told of unrest because of fears of job cuts.

She said: "We feel the restructuring of staff is affecting the education of pupils.

"Teachers have left and not been replaced and the students are therefore not getting the proper pastoral and academic care."

Ms Watson said: "If there has been a vote of no confidence I have not been made aware of it.

"I'm aware staff have been unhappy with the restructuring, but we went through all the right channels and had proper consultation."

Alan Williams, eastern regional officer for the National Union of Teachers, said: "There have been on-going problems at the school and this may have come to a head.

"There are concerns with regard to the Government restructuring. It appears the levels of consultation at William Edwards have not been adequate. Certain agreements were entered into and then altered without consultation.

"As a result of that the management will be top heavy with regard to the other teachers. In a situation like that some people might face salary cuts.

"Also, looking at their career structures people are concerned there will be fewer promoted posts."