PARENTS are absolutely thrilled after 11 teaching staff jobs were saved from compulsory redundancy.

The announcement was made yesterday as parents and teaching staff waited anxiously for the outcome of the final consultation between Moulsecoomb Primary School and Brighton and Hove City Council.

Parent Angela Pemberton, whose 11-year-old goes to the school, had started a petition to save teachers’ jobs.

She said: “I am over the moon about the news. It’s amazing.

“I just want to give a huge thank you to those who signed the petition.

“When I heard about the redundancies I was just so angry, and I couldn’t just sit back and watch it happen. I am very pleased that the school has made a u-turn on its proposal.”

Mrs Pemberton also said her son has high-functioning autism so he relies heavily on support staff.

She said they have helped him with his SATs.

Parent Heike Golightly, 42, from Moulsecoomb, said she was extremely delighted about the news.

She said: “I am absolutely thrilled about the news and we are all excited.

“It shouldn’t have happened in the first place, and parents shouldn’t need to go through such lengths to make a statement about how losing teaching staff can impact on the quality of teaching.

“The fight doesn’t stop here. These school cuts are happening across the country.

“We have to help other schools not to be in a situation where they need to make compulsory redundancies.

“The result from yesterday just shows that we can do something about it.

“We still need to fight for more funding now, or else we are back to redundancies in no time.”

Mark Turner, spokesman for GMB Sussex, said: “This just shows the power of the union.

“We lobbied very hard to save the jobs. At the moment it’s a victory because the threat of compulsory redundancies has been removed.

“However, the fight hasn’t stopped yet as we are dealing with a national problem of under-funding.

“We are calling for a summit meeting for schools and governing bodies, and other relevant organisations to discuss a proper strategy to stop budget cuts to schools.

“We shouldn’t be stumbling from one crisis to another.”

Brighton and Hove City Council’s chairman of the children, young people and skills committee, Councillor Dan Chapman, said: “I’m delighted that Moulsecoomb Primary School has been able to find a way forward with its budget for next year that does not require compulsory redundancies.

“Balancing the need to deliver a quality curriculum with increasing financial pressures is a massive problem for schools across the country.

“We work with all our schools based on their individual circumstances, and are committed to supporting our schools through their budget setting process whenever they request the council’s help.

“I would like to thank the school for the way it has consulted with their staff and trade unions, listened to their concerns, and then put forward a coherent plan for next year.”