A BUDGET crisis faced by North Yorkshire's education chiefs could mean larger class sizes in Craven's schools and job losses for more than 200 teachers.

The prediction comes from Craven District and North Yorkshire county councillor Robert Heseltine, who is deputy chairman of the county's education and library services committee.

Coun Heseltine made the forecast after the education committee confirmed a budget which would result in a 2.5 per cent cut, based on a proposed council tax rise of 7.5 per cent.

Previously, a meeting of the education sub-committee had identified the schools budget as one of the few areas left to make the substantial savings needed to balance the books.

Coun Heseltine told the Herald: 'There will be disastrous consequences for all schools across North Yorkshire, and Craven in particular, because of this mammoth shortfall, which will mean 2.5 per cent off all school budgets.'

He added that this could mean two to three hundred North Yorkshire teachers losing their jobs.

The consequences of the budget crisis would have immediate affect, most likely hitting schools in the summer term.

Coun Heseltine said this would have a knock-on affect and that drastically inflated class sizes of over 40 pupils could be expected, especially in the infant and junior sections of Craven's schools.

Currently, 800,000 pupils are educated by North Yorkshire every day and more youngsters than ever are estimated to join the county's schools during the next financial year.

John Dennis, chairman of the authority's education and library services committee, added: 'As an education service these are the biggest school budget cuts we have ever had to contemplate when, at the same time, the Government is urging us to raise standards and reduce class sizes.

'The whole scenario will make life very difficult for our teachers.'

Another problem facing North Yorkshire County Council is the teacher's pay award, which is due to come into effect on April 1.

This is by far the biggest single item in education spending, and the committee will now face the task of determining its education budget wihout knowing precisely what the pay award will be.

North Yorkshire has decided to budget for a pay rise of 3.5 per cent for teachers, but even a half a per cent variation either way represents £700,000 in the authority's spending plans.

However, Coun Heseltine said the education authority would be trying to find a solution to the crisis by holding another meeting today (Friday).

Further talks would then be held in a bid to explore new revenue ideas before a final decision was made on the budget on February 17.

A letter explaining the position has already been sent out to schools by the chairman of the education and library services committee.

Coun Heseltine added that members would be working closely with the teacher's unions to put pressure on North Yorkshire County Council to find a solution to the crisis.

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