EDUCATION chief June Longmuir was facing the axe today after councillors questioned her handling of special schools and education in north Worcestershire.

A vote of no confidence was due as part of a motion to strip Councillor Longmuir of her position as cabinet member with responsibility for education and lifelong learning.

If passed, she would be removed from the post with immediate effect and Worcestershire County Council leader, Dr George Lord, would choose a replacement.

The proposal was put forward by 10 Liberal and Independent councillors following "issues" over the reorganisation of special educational needs, the Wyre Forest Review and Redditch's schools.

Full meeting

"Following a variety of issues, this council no longer has confidence in Coun Longmuir as Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Education and Lifelong Learning and hereby removes her from office with immediate effect," the 10 submit, in their notice of motion.

The proposal needed to be forwarded and seconded before councillors could debate the matter during today's full meeting at County Hall. A vote was expected early this afternoon.

Whatever the outcome, Coun Longmuir will retain her elected position as a county councillor for Bromsgrove South.

The vote comes on the day secondary school league tables revealed a record-breaking performance by the local education authority.

Coun Longmuir was planning to defend her position, in a speech to the council, by highlighting the improvements county schools have made in the league tables.

"I'm preparing a full education report and the league tables reflect what I plan to say," she told the Evening News.

"I personally feel that the policies we have put forward in the last three or four years, in the light of falling rolls and so on, are really proving successful."

Coun Longmuir faced, and overcame, opposition from councillors when she was first appointed as cabinet member for education in 2001.