CONCERNED parents fear the education of youngster's at a Sedgley school would suffer if it was forced to take on additional pupils from the closure-threatened Coseley School.

Governors say the demand for places at Dormston School has reached "worrying" levels since Dudley Council launched a consultation on the future of the nearby secondary school.

The school's leaders claim the local authority is forcing them to admit the extra pupils as the school is not at full capacity.

However parents believe the move would lead to significantly larger class sizes, less money available to spend on educational resources and put extra strain on the school, that was until recently, in special measures.

They have launched a petition opposing the plans and it has already attracted more than 350 signatures and supporting comments.

Richard Hawkins wrote: "Dormston School is improving after previously being in special measures and such an influx of pupils will be a massive burden that will not have a positive effect on the continuation of improvement and safety of the current school population."

Marc Hickman said he thought it was "typically ill thought out", adding: "The students' education can only suffer from this", while Deborah Burton said: "Class sizes should be kept to a minimum to ensure quality education for the children. Coseley children deserve their own school."

Sedgley councillor Michael Evans, who has been a governor at the school for 16 years, told the News: "Eighteen months ago we were in special measures and we have worked hard to bring the quality of education up to the standard it is now. We will not let this put the school in jeopardy, if necessary we will appeal this decision to a higher authority."

Tony Oakman, the council's strategic director for the people directorate, said: “We have received a number of requests from parents from Coseley School to move their children to Dormston School, and other schools, and have been working closely with parents and head teachers on this issue.

“Every school has a previously agreed capacity level and Dormston has not reached theirs.

"The council has, however, already considered issues such as the impact of additional numbers on staffing and timetabling and has made admissions offers for September, to those parents requesting Dormston School, rather than an immediate admission.

"This will give the school almost six months to make any necessary preparations.

“We will continue to work with the parents and the schools to make sure the needs of pupils and their education remain the highest priority.”