JOHN Masefield High School may be forced to abandon plans to restructure its working day after being warned the school could be landed with a bill of £28,000 a year as a result.

The school Governors and Herefordshire Council are currently in talks following a meeting between parents, teachers and education chiefs held at the school last week.

The proposals from the school are that classes should begin slightly earlier, perhaps at 8.45am; that the lunch hour should be reduced by 15 minutes, and that the teaching day should end perhaps half an hour earlier than the present 3.45pm finish.

But LEA director, Dr Eddie Oram, has warned that, if the full proposals went ahead, it could lead to a £28,000 a year increase in school bus and taxi costs which could be chargeable to the school budget.

The extra costs would come about because, at present, the school bus system serving the school is integrated with the transport requirements of the primary schools, to save costs.

Richard Surman, a school governor said: "Our view is that the LEA has failed to see the educational benefits of the proposals.

"As numbers increase at the school, the staff and the head are concerned that children have safe supervision."

At present, most school clubs are slotted into the lunch hour. Under the proposed new arrangement, with the school day finishing early, these clubs, which must all be supervised, could be moved to the end of the day.

Staff formerly assigned supervision duties in the lunch hour would get a break then, finish teaching earlier and would be fresher for supervision duties at the end of a shorter day.

Mr Surman said: "The staff of the John Masefield High School are 100 per cent behind the idea of a radical increase in the number of after-school clubs. Most clubs take place at lunchtime, and it doesn't work well."

Dr Oram said: "The LEA could pay the extra transport costs, but we could charge the school.

"We are not concerned about the appropriateness of the proposals, but the implications for transport."

Mr Surman said: "My view as a governor is that it would be irresponsible of the governors to accept a surcharge against the school budget. We are struggling to supply books for our children. That is the view of all the governors, I can tell you."