PARENTS of children due to transfer school next September are being warned their child could lose out if they miss the deadline for applications next month.

A spokesman for the county council said children whose parents returned forms after the closing date would have a lower priority at their chosen school.

Applications, which should have been received by all parents affected from a primary or secondary school, need to be returned to the county council by Friday, November 23.

Last year, about 200 parents across the county either returned the forms after the closing date or not at all.

In September, the Shuttle/Times and News highlighted the case of Kidderminster mother-of-three Karen O'Neill who kept her daughter, Rebekah, away from school following a row over allocation.

Mrs O'Neill blamed the council for the problems which she said were caused by a delay on its part in sending out the transfer form, even though Rebekah had already moved to her new school.

The council spokesman said: "Every year the county council makes sure as many transferring pupils as possible are found a place at the parents' preferred school.

"We want to increase that number and we need parents' help at this stage to do that."

He added parents of children currently being educated outside the county or at independent schools who wish their child to be considered for a place in one of the county council's schools should contact the pupil admissions and transfer section for a transfer pack as soon as possible.

The pupil admissions and transfer office at County Hall can be contacted on 01905 763763.