An academy trust is facing a fierce backlash over its plan to replace all of its primary school teaching assistants with new roles in fewer numbers.

The Wensum Trust, which has eight primary schools across Norfolk, unveiled plans this week to make all its primary TAs redundant as it fights soaring running costs.

The proposals would see these roles replaced by new pastoral and learning support staff - but in fewer numbers, with the amount dropping from 75 full-time equivalent posts to 48.5.

But the trust is now facing backlash over the move, with more than 1,000 concerned people signing a petition calling to scrap the plan.

Eastern Daily Press:

It was set up by mother-of-two Rebecca Harrod, whose son William is a Year One pupil at Lodge Lane, in Old Catton, one of the schools affected.

He said: "I was shocked when I read the plans and am really concerned about how it could affect children and teachers in the schools.

"I do not think it would be safe, I do not think it will be practical and I think it will be the education of children that will suffer."

But trust bosses have defended the proposals, as the organisation fights to manage a budget that has seen energy costs increase by more than £500,000 in the past few years.

Eastern Daily Press: Daniel Thrower, chief executive of the Wensum Trust

Daniel Thrower, chief executive, said: "I would like to reiterate that we are not proposing to end educational support roles in our classrooms.

"Under our plans the teaching assistant role will be absorbed into a new, similar, role, which will provide educational support in the classroom where it is needed most.

"We, along with all schools and trusts in the country, are underfunded by the government and our primary school budgets can not cope.

"We have to find a solution to future-proof the education of our children."