Almost 900 teachers in Tower Hamlets would lose their jobs if changes to the way schools are funded go ahead, it has been claimed today.

According to recruitment agency Teachingjobsinlondon.co.uk schools in the borough could be forced to sack 891 teachers, putting it second from top on a list of the worst affected local authorities in London.

The worst hit borough is Newham - with the equivalent of 1,074 losses and Southwark with 808 is the third worst.

The company claims the least affected areas are Richmond Upon Thames (249), Kingston Upon Thames (249) and Merton (204).

The analysis used National Union of Teachers (NUT) data which took the total losses in per pupil funding for the borough’s schools and divided the resulting figure by the average Tower Hamlets teacher salary to work out the number of jobs at risk.

Tower Hamlets mayor John Biggs joined 74 headteachers to condemn the plans in a letter to Justine Greening, secretary of state for education.

The mayor said: “The impact of the proposed new funding formula is clear – to punish schools and pupils from the poorest areas.

“There is little doubt that being forced to cut staff will hit the quality of teaching our schools are able to offer.”

Lorraine Flanagan , headteacher of Thomas Buxton Primary School in Buxton Street, Whitechapel, said: “We have been managing reductions to school funding for many years now, but we can’t do it for much longer.

“Money is being wasted by central government on pet projects such as grammar schools and free schools. There is little evidence that any of these will have a positive impact on our children’s life chances.

“It’s unfair, unjust and has to stop.”

Alex Kenny, NUT spokesman, added: “The amount of money our schools stand to lose is eye-watering. The government should stop robbing Peter to pay Paul.”

In response a Department for Education spokesman said: “The government has protected the core schools budget since 2010, with school funding at its highest level on record.

“We recognise schools are facing pressures, which is why we will continue to provide support to help them,” he added.