SCHOOL pupils in the Wyre Forest are being denied placements at their local school because children from other districts are taking up their places, it has been claimed.

The warning comes from Councillor Stephen Clee who has called on the director of educational services to investigate the disparity affecting local children with the number of pupils travelling in to Bewdley daily for their education.

Coun Clee said there were 1,354 local children in educational establishments in Bewdley, but 440 pupils or 25 per cent of the additional places taken up, came from outside the area.

"This is having a terrible effect on the school pyramid, which Worcestershire County Council operates and will need to be reviewed when the Wyre Forest school review takes place in 2003," he said. "This moving around is having a damaging effect on our school travel budget and the county figure is alarmingly high.

"It also denies local families the opportunity to send their children to the school of their choice."

"No wonder our road network is crippled every morning due to 440 pupils travelling into our little town."

District review

The matter came to Coun Clee's notice when a Stourport on Severn family complained to him that they had to send their son to Bewdley because the school in their area was full.

The investigation stems from earlier comments made by Coun John Gordon that a school in the Wyre Forest would close under a district review.