THE problem with surplus places in Redditch schools will not be looked into properly until the autumn, it has been announced.

In March, a report by Worcestershire County Council's education scrutiny panel stated there were still too many school places in Redditch despite the review which saw the closure or merger of 12 schools two years ago.

The report led to widespread fear and outrage that more schools would have to be shut.

Now, following rumours about certain schools being merged or closed, further discussion on the issue has been put back until later in the year.

And the work carried out by the education scrutiny panel is to be reviewed following a "breakdown in procedures" which led to the widespread rumours.

County Council Leader Dr George Lord said: "In the light of the need for further evaluation and analysis, the situation concerning surplus school places in Redditch will be considered in the autumn."

He added: "Now is not the time to debate the issue. The matter has been raised by a scrutiny exercise that was seeking to inform the process in which we deliver school reviews and no recommendations have been discussed by anyone in the cabinet."

Mr Lord said autumn was the right time to look at surplus places as they would have a clearer picture of roll numbers and budgets, including catchment areas and the possibility of extended schools.

He said: "On top of that, we are in the middle of massive reviews of education in Wyre Forest and of special education needs, so officers could not possibly undertake any additional work.

"It is clear that during the scrutiny exercise, there was a breakdown in procedure that has not helped matters and we will also have to look at how that happened."