Several teachers have already resigned

The Ramsgate School in Kent has taken on six youth workers - two of whom are not qualified teachers.

Several teachers have already resigned or are planning to leave the school.

Two thirds of the staff were asked to improve their work or risk losing their jobs in September, with 11 more now facing the same prospect.

'Useful stopgap'

Four of the six replacement staff brought in from Kent County Council's youth service hold teaching qualifications, but have not taken lessons for a long time, the council said.

Matt Wheatcroft, the Labour group's spokesman for education in Kent, said: "I think it's a useful stopgap measure.

"It's obviously a position we would wish to monitor and I would always want to work closely with the teachers' unions."

He said part of the problem was the county's selective education system.

'Golden future'

He said: "It's the downside of selection. As long as Kent runs selective schools, some school is going to turn out to be the least popular in the community.

"That causes all kinds of problems - funding problems, staffing problems - and they have been endemic at Ramsgate. The time for change is now."

The school, in Stirling Way, Ramsgate, has had five head teachers in as many years.

Mr Wheatcroft said the intervention by the education authority in the school's running meant there was now a "golden future" ahead.