THE story appeared on the Courier website www.creditoncouriernewspaper.co.uk on Friday, March 11.

Queen Elizabeth’s School in Crediton says it is facing financial shortfall and has begun consultations and negotiations with staff about potential redundancies.

Principle Rupert Poole explained that the school is facing reduced funding and increasing costs and has seen reductions in specific funding streams, most notably in income to support students with Special Education Needs.

How do you think the proposed redundancies might affect students, members of staff at the school and the community as a whole?

Please let me know. You can contact me at: 102 High Street, Crediton or by email at: [email protected] .

What you told us ...

I attended the meeting as a parent of a child who receives support from the SEN department. The meeting was well attended by parents who were also concerned about the information that is circulating. The Principal and Governors seemed surprised by the level of concern and were quite defensive. I left the meeting feeling extremely worried that the decisions have already been made. What concerns me the most is the lack of consultation with the parents of those children which will be affected and how those children will cope. How can "Every Child Matter" if the cuts go ahead?

Concerned parent, Crediton

It’s not good that there may be redundancies at the school. It’s wrong that the cuts are affecting students with special needs the most. They are the ones who need the most help.

Miss Williams, Crediton

My daughter goes to Q E School, but I wasn’t aware there might be redundancies. Is it because it became an academy and has now gone bust? I talked to a newspaper about this in 2008 and said it was a bad idea.

Jonathan Marks, Crediton

I think it’s disgusting that the cuts are affecting those with special needs the most. My eldest daughter went through the whole of QE and was not diagnosed with autism until she was 18. It wasn’t picked up before. My younger daughter was diagnosed much earlier. The school seems to focus on the high achievers yet it is the ones with special needs that need help the most. What will happen to those with special needs who are getting help at present?

Concerned mother, Copplestone.