LESS popular A-level courses will be axed if school sixth forms are introduced in Worcester, warn college chiefs.

They made their predictions after the announcement that an independent chairman had been appointed for a review of post-16 education in the city.

Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College in Timberdine Avenue, Battenhall, Worcester, is leading the drive to introduce school sixth forms, saying pupils want the choice of staying on after GCSEs.

But the principals of Worcester's two further education colleges said the stretching of resources would mean less, not more, choice.

Chris Morecroft, head of Worcester College Of Technology, said the number of students on his courses would fall if other sixth forms were created, leading to less cash.

He said: "We are not very rich anyway and so we would end up offering, perhaps the top 10 subjects, while the fringe subjects, which are more expensive to run, will end up being dropped.

"We won't be able to afford to run, say, Russian, but does that mean the country doesn't need Russian students? Of course not. We don't want subjects like that dropped. It will lead to a bigger choice in institutions but a smaller choice of subjects."

The Learning And Skills Council has appointed Tim Clark as independent chairman of the review, which will be conducted in the first half of next year.

Mr Clark worked as teacher and manager in four different colleges in England before retiring in October.

John Tredwell, principal of Worcester Sixth Form College, said: "Given that this review is going to happen we welcome this appointment, but it won't help us to have all our six partner schools setting up sixth forms. If we lose students we will end up having to cut things out of our curriculum.