PARENTS of pupils in Bromsgrove and Droitwich Spa who are due to move schools next year have been warned the process is now under way -- in a bid to avoid last year's problems.

Worcestershire County Council is trying to highlight the situation to cut the number of hitches experienced last year when around 200 parents either returned the forms after the closing date or did not return them at all.

Information packs outlining the procedure for transferring from one school to the next should have been received by thousands of parents after they were distributed to every primary and middle school pupil in the county.

The authority is now urging parents to read thoroughly every document in the pack and return the form before the deadline of Friday, November 23.

Children whose forms are returned after the closing date will have lower priority for a place at their preferred school.

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

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

The authority has to operate to strict Government criteria when dealing with pupil transfers and cannot guarantee it will find everyone a place at their preferred school.

For a transfer pack, call the pupil admissions and transfers office on (01905) 763763.