HEADTEACHERS at both Malvern secondary schools have warned they would not be able to cope with the huge demand for school places if North Site is sold for housing.

The Ministry of Defence, which owns the site, indicated at an exhibition held yesterday (Thursday) that it would like to see around 600 houses built on the 48-acre North Malvern site.

Under Worcestershire County Council (WCC) rules, pupils moving to the new development would take precedence for entry to Dyson Perrins CE High School, a stone's throw away, over families from the rest of the town.

But both Peter Buchanan, head of Dyson Perrins, and Kevin Peck, head of The Chase, have said their high schools are already full and there is no room for expansion to cater for any extra demand.

The two primary schools poised to serve the new development are also very nearly full. Northleigh had just 10 spaces in January this year and Malvern Link none.

The county council hopes to formally adopt a policy next month that will see developers obliged to contribute towards its education budget for every new house they build.

At the moment, the rates are just over £2,000 for every three-bedroom house built and around £2,500 per four-bedroom house in developments of five houses or more. These are expected to change before the North Site development takes place.

Sue Owen, WCC forward and strategic planning officer, said talks aimed at addressing the problem are already underway with Malvern Hills District Council.

She added that it would be the council's first thought to try and keep children already within the Malvern school "pyramid", which includes Leigh, Bransford, Powick, Callow End and Rushwick, from having to travel outside it to Worcester or Hanley Castle.

She admitted that the possibility of building a new school is one of the options being looked into but stressed that all alternatives were being considered.

The MoD exhibition can be seen again next Thursday (November 28) from 3.30pm to 7.30pm at the old canteen on North Site.