Schools in West Sussex will lose 14 teachers next year, according to leaked figures published today.

The reduction in staff numbers has been partly blamed on the funding crisis facing the County Council.

Union leaders said cash-strapped council officials face handing redundancy notices to teachers as they struggle to cope with spiralling wage bills and increased National Insurance Contributions.

But the total of 13.8 full-time jobs also includes teaching posts which are no longer needed because of falling roles or a reduction in pupil numbers.

Nationally, a 50,000 drop is expected in primary and nursery schools over the next three years.

The National Union of Teachers, which leaked the figures, claimed the true crisis facing schools had been underplayed by the Government.

Of the 37 local education authorities for which figures are available, 620 full-time teaching posts are going. An estimated 263 jobs are being lost as a result of falling roles.

No figures were published for East Sussex or Brighton and Hove, which also face a cash crisis.

Doug McAvoy, general secretary of the NUT, said: "It is quite clear that the figures are far worse than last year, despite the education secretary's claim.

"He may try to spin the truth, but for teachers and pupils the problems will be a reality.

"By twisting authorities he may achieve a reduction in the number of compulsory redundancies.

"What he won't achieve is a reduction in the unacceptable loss of teaching posts. The figures show it is not business as usual."

Today Mr Clarke was defending his handling of the funding crisis at the Local Government Association's education conference in Manchester.

He was expected to identify 10 areas where LEAs need to support head teachers.

These include raising standards in literacy and numeracy; tackling weakness in underperforming schools; delivering integrated childcare; rooting out bad behaviour and non-attendance; and supporting modernisation of the teacher workforce.

Mr Clarke will add: "The best LEAs are already doing these things and that is why I know that where good LEAs provide leadership, are in touch with local needs and support their schools, there is no other organisation to touch them."