ANXIOUS parents fearing the worst over school places have spoken out about their plight at a county council meeting.

Owen Beale, parent to one of 15 pupils facing a lock-out at Worcester’s Red Hill CE Primary School, said the saga was “shattering”.

Because the school is over-subscribed, all but one of the families, who live in the Battenhall area, have been offered places at Pitmaston Primary in St John’s.

As the Worcester News first reported last month, the remaining pupil was offered a place at Gorse Hill Primary in Tolladine.

Speaking to full council, Mr Beale said: “This means the children, many of whom will have just had their fourth birthday, and their younger siblings face a journey of two miles or more to school and back every day.

“Parents are concerned about the effect this will have on the physical health of their children and their ability to learn.

“Worcester is a city which is known for, and is rightly proud of, its strong and active communities.

“To be effectively ostracised from their local area is devastating for all those concerned.”

Representing all the parents involved, he urged the authority to create a special overflow “bulge class” for September so they could attend Red Hill.

He said: “This would also allow a more detailed review of medium and long-term solutions for our community, such as increasing provision.”

The problem has arisen because Worcestershire County Council, which allocates the places, has been battling with a rise in demand because of an increased birthrate.

Red Hill has 30 places but councillors recently refused to increase the published admissions numbers to 45 from September 2013 after a consultation revealed that most parents felt the school could not cope with the change.

The county council will send Mr Beale a written reply to his question.

Councillor Jane Potter, cabinet member for education and skills, has already said all places offered are “in line with national guidelines”.

Some 90 per cent of Worcestershire families received their first choice school this year.