A HEADTEACHER fears some schools in the Basingstoke area may be forced to teach children for only four days a week if teaching positions are not filled.

David Hale, who has been headteacher of The Priory Primary School in Ramsdell for 13 years, said that each year it becomes harder to recruit new teachers. If the trend continues, he believes there is a chance children will be sent home one day a week on a rotational basis.

Mr Hale said: "It is mainly secondary schools that find it hard to get the new teachers. Some of my colleagues are becoming very worried about filling vacancies.

"When we advertised a position four years ago, the school received 88 applications.

"A similiar position we advertised in May in four different national journals received only seven applications."

With only five weeks to go until the beginning of term, schools are desperately trying to attract teachers with better packages.

Mr Hale (right) said: "Even with extra inducements and the fact that we are a good school set in a desirable location, it is still hard to get applicants for jobs."

He blames the cost of housing in Hampshire for the difficulty in filling positions.

And he warned that as housing prices rise and the cost of living gap between north and south grows further apart, it will become even harder to recruit. He said: "Teachers are on a national income scale, and no-one on £17,000 per year can afford to buy a house here. If you want a better standard of living you have to move north."

A Hampshire County Council spokeswoman said there were no plans to introduce a four-day week.

She added: "We are aware of the problems with trying to recruit teachers, and have started initiatives to boost teacher recruitment."

The council has been holding trade fairs to convince potential employees that Hampshire is a great place to live and work.