compulsory

Lecturers have begun receiving letters advising them their post is at risk and offering links to support - although the university has said it would only make compulsory redundancies "if absolutely necessary".

The university said it would only make compulsory redundancies "if absolutely necessary".

At the start of the next school year, the scheme will be compulsory for Year 7s and it may be rolled out to older year groups as well.

Staff at Cottingham High School near Hull have staged a sixth day of strike action amid fears of compulsory redundancies as a result of the planned closure of its sixth form.

Also in December, Volkswagen announced it had reached a deal with the IG Metall trade union which will avert plant closures in Germany and avoid immediate compulsory redundancies.