A ROW has erupted over the "futility" of a debate on the future of education in the county.

Wyre Forest councillors claim last week's discussion on the merits of two-tier versus three-tier education was a "waste of time".

The talks at County Hall in Worcester were intended to give councillors the chance to air their opinions and help officers draw up guidelines for the future.

The meeting came eight weeks before the start of a review of education across Wyre Forest, designed to find ways to solve problems over standards and surplus pupil places.

But councillors have voiced their anger over the timing of the discussions and the way the debate was organised.

Mike Oborski told the meeting: "In a letter to councillors, the cabinet member for education called for a debate 'without overwhelming paper, statistics and other verbiage to cloud the issue'.

"I have often heard uninformed debates in this chamber - but this is the first time I have actually heard a councillor call for uninformed debate!"

He went on: "Public opinion in Wyre Forest is brittle. People feel they were ignored on the hospital. They were horrified by the attempt to dump an incinerator on them. They already feel the Hagley schools review (which introduced two-tier education) already prejudges the forthcoming Wyre Forest review.

"Before that review has even started you are going to be seen as prejudging the issue."

Councillor June Longmuir, cabinet member for education, told the debate three-tier education was outdated and declining nationally.

Two-thirds of Worcestershire operates the three-tier system - first, middle and high schools - while Worcester and Hagley are two-tier - primary and secondary.

Council leader Dr George Lord defended the debate and pledged all views would be taken into account in deciding future policy.

And Colin Weeden, the county's head of education policy, said there were no plans to introduce any changes until all schools had been through area reviews.

The Wyre Forest review starts in January and will see consultation with teachers, governors, parents and pupils, leading to a report outlining the way forward the following spring.