CHILDREN in Worcester have been allocated secondary schools up to 12 miles outside of the city due to a shortage of spaces created by the regional housing boom.
On offer day, 21 children living in the city were offered an alternative place at Dyson Perrins CofE Academy in Malvern and two at Stourport High School.
A dozen went on to enrol at Dyson and one at the Stourport-on-Severn secondary, which were judged to be the next nearest schools to their home addresses by officials.
The council, which is having to make contingencies for a spike in the number of primary leavers, said that 96.3 per cent of families had been allocated their preferred place.
Pupil numbers have been growing since 2017 and are expected to continue ticking upwards due to “significant” housing growth in and around the city, according to the local authority.
Last July, the council introduced plans to create additional spaces at Dyson Perrins and The Chase secondary schools in Malvern.
The Cabinet was shown information showing a sharp uptick in 2026 pupil numbers corresponding to the housing boom.
Numbers then tail off as the first generation of new residents grow older.
The report followed two years where demand exceeded supply and secondary schools had to admit more pupils than those in their admissions plans.
Parents can qualify for transport assistance to the alternative school provided they have applied to – and been refused at – their catchment area choice.
The council maintains that the allocation of school places can change on a regular basis and schools continue to fill vacancies from their waiting lists.
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Adam Johnston, the council’s director of children’s services, said: “Worcestershire County Council has a duty to ensure all pupils have a suitable school place.
“In cases where a place cannot be offered at any of the parents’ preferred schools, the local authority offers a place at the next nearest school with a vacancy.
“On the secondary school national offer day on March 2, 2026, 96.3% of families received an offer at one of their preferred schools and no child was without a school place offer.
“In July 2025, Cabinet agreed to ensure the sufficiency of year 7 places in September 2026 and 2027 for pupils living in or attending Worcester City primary schools, by agreeing additional places be created at Dyson Perrins CofE Academy and The Chase secondary schools in Malvern.”
Mr Johnston added: “We understand that families will be disappointed if they have not received a place at one of their preferred schools.
“If a parent wishes to appeal against the decision, they must advise the school they wish to appeal for and set out the reasons why they are appealing.
“This must be put in writing and sent directly to the school.”
*What has your experience been of the schools admissions process? To share your thoughts please get in touch with our reporter Josh Layton at joshua.layton@newsquest.co.uk
