A WORCESTER school was due to find out today whether it will be able to smack disruptive pupils.

The High Court was due to make its decision involving the River School this morning.

The school, which is part of the Worcester Christian Trust, is one of 40 schools challenging the Government's decision to ban corporal punishment.

It says the ban is a restriction of parents' rights to discipline children.

If it is successful, children at the school, based at Oakfield House, Droitwich Road, Fernhill Heath, could be punished physically.

Headteacher Graham Coyle said the punishment would only be used where all alternatives had failed.

"It would be used for repetitive, serious misdemeanours," said Mr Coyle.

The school is likely to bring back the slipper, a form of punishment used before the ban in 1998.

Mr Coyle has joined other teachers at the High Court in London this morning. He said the decision could take two days.

"We've been told they're going to reserve judgement," he said.