Eight teaching assistants have lost their jobs in order to make room for more qualified staff and reduce class sizes.

Coppice Primary School, Manford Way, Hainault has made eight members of its staff redundant after they were re-interviewed for the positions that many had held for several years.

A Redbridge Council spokesman said: “Coppice Primary School presented a business model which looked at improving progress and attainment among its pupils and a decision was taken by the school to make eight teaching assistants redundant and employ more qualified teaching staff.

“This has enabled the school to reduce literacy and numeracy class sizes to optimum numbers from 30 to 15-20 pupils.

“The school considers this model to be best practice in the interests of the pupils. The GMB union and teaching assistants were consulted throughout the process and made no opposition or challenge.”

The spokesman added: “A last in first out scheme does not necessarily retain the best staff for the job and can be discriminatory.”