Job cuts feared as Liverpool closes education department

The University of Liverpool's education department will close next summer because of financial difficulties.

Liverpool's academic committee has decided that the department, which provides continuing professional development to school teachers, is "no longer financially viable".

The university said CPD for teachers was already provided by other institutions in the region and the university would seek to ensure continuity of provision. It would not comment on whether there would be job losses.

Vice-chancellor Drummond Bone said: "Our Centre for Research in Primary Science and Technology would continue as a stand-alone research centre and would operate from within the Centre for Lifelong Learning, alongside other important services provided by the university to schools. The university's first consideration will, of course, be for its staff."

Lecturers said more than 200 postgraduate courses would be lost and 40 staff jobs were threatened.