NEW catchment areas drawn up as part of the Wyre Forest Schools Review have been criticised by the head and governors at a Wolverley School.

Worcestershire County Council's decision to place Franche Primary School in the new Baxter Community Secondary School's pyramid link has been slammed as a "complete nonsense".

Wolverley High School's chairman of governors, Robert Bayliss, accused officials of ignoring "every suggestion" made by board members during the period of consultation.

He explained: "They have created a situation where there are far too many children in the new Baxter catchment area and not enough in Wolverley's.

"This simply means that parents need to exercise their right to put Wolverley as first choice if they wish. There is likely to be space as the local authority has drawn up the catchment areas in such a way that there are only approximately 150 children in each year group in our area, while we have space for nearly 200."

All 45 existing first, middle and high schools will close at the end of the next academic year as the district's education system changes from a three to two-tier model.

A total of 30 new primary and secondary schools will open their doors in September.

A period of informal and formal consultation was held to draw up the new catchment areas.

Kevin O'Regan, designated head for the new Wolverley CE Secondary School, believed the decision would cause "confusion and anxiety".

He added: "There will be space at Wolverley for children from Franche who want to continue the link or for those who want a Church of England School for their children."

Zoe Cookson, Wyre Forest Schools Review project manager, rejected the claims that suggestions put forward had been disregarded.

She said: "We understand that the temporary governing body has concerns over numbers but we are more than satisfied that the catchment areas drawn up will best serve their communities.

"We received many comments, including from the temporary governing body of Wolverley, during both the initial consultation period and the formal consultation that followed.

"Some of these comments were taken on board and effected a change to our proposals and some did not.

"We've made plenty of amendments to prove that we do take on board the comments made to us."