A UNION has threatened strike action as five school staff face redundancy.

Unison members have passed a vote of no confidence in governors at Hove Park School.

The union, which represents most of the staff at risk of redundancy, claims the school has racked up a deficit of £475,000.

Matt Webb, from Unison, said 20 members of staff had been at risk of redundancy but after union action and talks the school had reduced it to five.

He said members would fight to secure the futures of the five staff members and would not rule out strike action.

It comes as two protests organised by the Brighton-based Save Our Schools group will be held today.

There will be a demonstration at The Level in Brighton at 3.30pm and another at Victoria Park in Portslade at the same time. Peter Kyle MP is set to address the crowd in Portslade.

Earlier this month the parent-led campaign organised banners outside dozens of city schools to spell out the scale of the cuts – which they claims equates to an average of £475 per pupil.

Mr Webb said the members of staff at risk were workers at the Forest School outdoor learning centre, based at Plumpton Agricultural College, along with two of Hove Park’s literacy coaches.

Sue Beatty, Unison’s Brighton and Hove local government branch secretary, said: “Parents have looked at Hove Park’s excellent Ofsted report and decided that is the school for their child. But under these proposals when they get there, most of these services will be gone.

“The school has chosen to target low-paid but hard-working and dedicated support staff – mainly women. We call on the school governors to reconsider these damaging proposals.”

The Argus approached Jim Roberts, headteacher of Hove Park School, for comment on Monday but he failed to respond.