Hundreds of students are currently protesting at school against two teacher redundancies.

Students from all year groups at Chatsmore Catholic High School in Goring Street, Worthing, are believed to be occupying the school tennis courts and playing field.

Pupils planned the demonstration after learning last week that popular teachers Jan Archer and Cora Gillies had taken voluntary redundancy following a consultation.

Headteacher Mike Madden said it had been an extremely difficult decision but the school’s hand was forced by drastic cuts to capital funding.

He said last week: “The harsh reality is budgets are much reduced. We have lost funding from a number of streams and had to make a number of difficult decisions.

“When I started teaching 30 years ago redundancy in school was unheard of. Now the reality in schools is much the same as any other business. Making all the money spread over is increasingly difficult. In the mid 90s there was money in education. That level of funding is drying up now. We have to manage it like everybody else.”