A?NUMBER?of redundancies are due to take place at Tavistock College.

College Principal Helen Salmon said: 'Secondary schools across the country are experiencing reduced pupil numbers because of an historic fall in the birth rate. Our finance is based on how many students we have.

'A small drop in numbers has quite a significant impact on our budget. If numbers drop we have less income and so have to reduce our staffing.

'We are currently consulting with staff on a comparatively small number of redundancies in what should be a confidential process.

'I cannot comment further at this stage except to say that I am extremely hopeful the majority of job losses will be achieved through voluntary redundancy.'