Union leaders say teaching staff are in revolt over plans to reduce pay to bridge their special needs school's financial gap.

Classroom support staff at Chailey Heritage School, near Lewes, have rejected a proposed shake-up, branding the proposals damaging to staff and students.

In a letter to staff, head teacher Alistair Bruce stated that among reasons for the pupil support review was to "reduce the financial deficit the school is producing".

However, union officials said Chailey Heritage already paid much less than counterparts in state schools in the area.

Tony Wilson, branch secretary of public service union Unison, said: "The school's proposals will widen this gap to more than 40 per cent.

"Already there is an increased staff turnover on the strength of the proposals alone. If pay reductions of up to 32 per cent are forced on staff, many more will leave."

Mr Wilson voiced concern that the school may struggle to attract and retain staff if the proposals go through.

He said increased staff turnover, constant vacancies and a less-experienced staff would impact badly on education standards.

Chailey Heritage in Haywards Heath Road, North Chailey, provides residential special school teaching for children with complex special needs.

In a statement, the school rebutted suggestions wages would be slashed by up to 32 per cent, stressing the proposals were at an early stage.

It said any support staff worse off under changes would have their pay frozen at the current level, not reduced. It disputed a series of claims by the union, saying statistics showed no greater staff turnover than average throughout the review.

A school spokesman con-tradicted the claim staff were undervalued by quoting its last Ofsted report which said support staff were skilled, experienced and well led.