AS many as 16 full-time teachers could be facing redundancy from schools across Torfaen.

The Torfaen county secretary of the National Association of School-masters Union of Women Teachers claims two schools in Cwmbran have already announced intentions to make teachers redundant.

Steve Spokes said a further nine infant, junior or primary schools in the county are expected to announce possible redundancies soon.

The schools understood to have issued notices to teachers already are Fairwater Infants School and Maendy Junior School.

A spokeswoman for Torfaen council admitted there was likely to be a number of redundancies in schools.

But she told the Argus the expectation was that the majority of staff would be redeployed - and said public speculation of possible redundancies was "grossly irresponsible".

Mr Spokes said: "The council claims they are going to redeploy but in reality they will be overwhelmed by the numbers. The union is blaming poor planning and strategy on behalf of the LEA."

The council spokeswoman said: "Very few posts will be lost overall. We believe we will minimise impact to - at the most - a few posts through redeployment, voluntary redundancy and early retirement.

"It is quite common at the end of any academic year for the distribution of staffing resource to require adjustment. Pupil numbers in each school change from year to year and staff need to be deployed most effectively to keep class sizes at appropriate levels."

Currently only four teachers from the two schools have been told they are to be made redundant and they are believed to be preparing an appeal to the Local Education Authority.

Mr Spokes said: "The worst case scenario is that 16 primary and infants school teachers could be lost in the area. But it's worse than that because before a full-time teacher is made redundant part-time contract staff have to go first."