Jobs are to be axed at a city secondary school.

Up to 15 support staff are to take voluntary redundancy at Varndean School as it undergoes a major restructure.

Unison confirmed it is in negotiations with school bosses to help members get the best deal possible.

The National Union of Teachers is also in talks with the school.

However no compulsory redundancies are planned.

Varndean, in Balfour Road, Brighton, said in letters on its website that following a restructure consultation it is changing to a “schools within schools” system.

It is installing four “schools” with each one having its own head, deputy head and support team It said this will improve “ratios of pastoral and academic intervention threefold”.

Teaching assistants are believed to be among staff being made redundant.

Union insiders said the proposed changes mainly affect higher-end staff and those in a position of responsibility.

Last year the number of pupils achieving A* to C at GCSE fell to 55%, from 58% in 2010. However, it still ranked fourth in the city’s nine community or voluntary aided secondary schools or academies.

The school said on its website that with 1,350 students it is “too big” for the current structure and it wants to “reshape how the school is led and managed”.