STAFF at a Basingstoke college have been offered the chance to take voluntary redundancy.

A letter has been sent out to teaching staff and learning support staff at Queen Mary’s College (QMC) for the third year, in response to Government funding cuts.

Stephen Sheedy, principal at QMC, in Cliddesden Road, said: “The Government is reducing funding for students year on year in further education.

“At the moment, we have asked if there are any volunteers for redundancy. We will make most of the savings from people leaving and not being replaced.”

He added that it is “unlikely” that any compulsory redundancies will need to be made. The college needs to save around £500,000 in the next year.

Mr Sheedy, who is retiring at the end of the current academic year, said around six jobs out of 300 staff will need to go. He added: “Most of the loss is what Government would call ‘back-room’ functions. We are doing what we can to protect the classroom.”

Mr Sheedy said the same letter had been sent out for the past two years, but no compulsory redundancies were made.