The head of a Borehamwood school which is losing a teacher because of high property prices this week called for more affordable housing for key workers.

Linda Forbes, the headteacher at Woodlands Primary School, urged the county council to seek extra funding to offer cheaper homes to staff in vital public roles.

Two teachers at Woodlands recently told her they were leaving because they could not afford to live in the area, although one of them has since decided to stay.

This year the county council received a Government grant of £2.5million to provide affordable housing, but it will only be enough to assist a total of 80 staff.

Mrs Forbes said: "It would be wonderful to see affordable housing for these workers in the Borehamwood area the property prices here are ridiculous."

The £2.5million grant will support 68 teachers and 12 social workers and firefighters entering into shared property ownership schemes with housing associations.

Because only a small number of workers can be assisted, the council has decided to give priority to teachers at those schools under special measures.

Ian Lucas, head of Borehamwood's Hertswood School, said that, while he had sufficient staff, he agreed recruiting and retaining teachers was proving difficult.

"One of the problems that Borehamwood has is it is just inside the Hertfordshire border if you go a mile away you can earn more money," he said.

The council has been trying to recruit a new headteacher for Borehamwood's Meryfield Primary School since July, and has received few applications.

County Councillor Brian York, who is the chairman of Borehamwood Education Forum, is also urging the county council to seek extra Government funding.

He had suggested that two caretakers' cottages at the old Hillside and Lyndhurst school premises in Borehamwood should be leased to teaching staff.

However, Mr York was informed by the council that the cottages would be sold off, along with most of the other land at the two sites, for housing development.

"It seems daft that we have two caretakers' houses that belong to the county council and we have a problem housing teachers in Borehamwood," he said.

In September there were 209 teaching vacancies across the county, and the annual turnover rate for teachers in Hertfordshire was 14.7 per cent.

The council also wants to provide affordable homes to attract and retain social workers. as its children's social work unit is currently 17 per cent below strength.

December 12, 2001 12:28