THE county's head of education has been sacked following last year's rumours that even more Redditch schools could merge or close.

Councillor June Longmuir, who was Worcestershire County Council cabinet member for education until Thursday, described her ousting as a "cynical political conspiracy".

Conservative Miss Longmuir was removed after a vote of no confidence proposed by Wyre Forest county councillor John Gordon, leader of the Kidderminster Health Concern group.

His notice of motion cited the Redditch rumours as well as controversy over a Kidderminster schools review and special needs education in Worcester.

Last year's rumours left some Redditch parents fearing more upheaval after the 2001 Redditch Review, which closed and merged numerous schools to cut surplus places.

The rumours were sparked in March after letters were sent to some parents by headteachers implying more schools could be shut to cut even more surplus places.

A county scrutiny report published last week said there was particular concern about a breakdown of communication between Miss Longmuir and her education officers.

It added: "Actions taken by officers and some members helped create a perception that there was a preferred way forward, although cabinet had not agreed such a way forward."

But it said no one individual was responsible for the disquiet.

Following her sacking, Miss Longmuir said: "This was a political coup.

"We are approaching silly season and people are looking to the elections, the end result being I get the chop.

"We had just had the most upbeat report on county education for years and I was then told I was being incompetent."

She added: "I picked up the pieces of the Redditch Review, which was actually incomplete. Labour and the Liberal Democrats had left 1,000 vacant places. I was asked to give a promise that no more school closures would take place. I said I couldn't promise that because we had a problem but I had put forward a series of policies which gave us flexibility without closing schools.

"But I had to take the blame and responsibility for problems which were not originally my doing. This has just been stirred up and is very cynical."

Redditch MP Jacqui Smith, who called for Ms Longmuir to resign last year, welcomed her removal.

"The rumours and the letters from headteachers harmed staff morale and parent confidence," said Ms Smith.

"Ms Longmuir claims to have had no knowledge at all of these plans. If that is true, it shows her department was running out of control and causing significant harm to our schools."