STAFF at Pendle's biggest high school have given a vote of no confidence in its governors.

A poll of teaching and non-teaching staff was taken at Mansfield High, Brierfield, after the shock news that the school is to lose its prestigious technology college status.

County education bosses will also step in next month to take control of the school's finances.

Now governors are to hold an urgent question and answer session with staff in a bid to rebuild confidence and allay their fears.

The poll was organised by teaching unions the NUT and ATL (Association of Teachers and Lecturers) and public service union Unison.

Avoid

Of the 73 papers sent out 40 were returned. There were substantial majorities in favour of no confidence votes in the chairman of governors Shelagh Derwent and the governing body as a whole.

Nobody from the unions were available to comment on the results, but it is understood staff feel that governors should have done more to avoid the series of problems that have hit Mansfield over the past six months, including the absence of three senior members of staff as a result of two major investigations by the police. Mrs Derwent said: "I fully understand the reason why they held this ballot. It's very natural for people when they feel unjustly treated to hit out at somebody.

"We are calling a meeting with staff as soon as possible so they can talk to us about the situation. They can always contact the governors whenever they want to anyway. We are always available to talk to staff."

Mrs Derwent said no governors would step down as a result of the no confidence vote. She said she understood less than half those who took part were teachers.

She added: "I have to repeat that there was no consultation with the governors over the decision by the Department of Education and Employment to withdraw technology college status or about the control of the finances."

The governors are writing to the Education Secretary David Blunkett and the education authority to try and reverse the decisions.

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