More than 80 employees of the secondary school in Stratford Road have signed a letter addressed to Rachel Singer, head of learning, achievement and school improvement for the county council, calling for an end to the stress and disruption caused by "the constant spectre of redundancy".

The letter, which has been seen by the Chronicle & Echo, reads: "We the staff of Roade School Sports College, both teaching and support, are writing to you to strongly protest at the way our school has been treated over a number of years by the local authority.

"Since January 2005 we have been told, year in and year out, that because of falling numbers, our school budget will not absorb the number of staff that we currently employ. There is the fear among us that we are suffering from a long-term attempt by the local authority to close the school down.

"We have had enough: no longer do we feel that we can just sit back and take whatever is thrown at us."

The letter states that the constant need to cut staff numbers is "eating away at the heart of the school" and is causing good staff, both teachers and su to police officers and police staff directly.

callum.jones@northantsnews.co.uk