CHILDREN in Wyre Forest looking forward to going to high school in 2007 could be in for a shock after it emerged they could have to stay put in middle school buildings.

A massive building programme to enlarge high schools to take on pupils from age 11 instead of 13 is unlikely to be finished until 2011, parents have been told.

That means even though high schools will take on years seven and eight, those year groups might have to stay in middle school buildings until the extra space is available.

Middle school buildings could become "lower school" buildings and may even need modifying to suit a secondary school curriculum.

Parents and teachers were told in a letter that the "five new secondary schools are likely to be using" nearby middle schools from 2007, when the switch to primary and secondary schools takes effect.

Bewdley High would use Wribbenhall Middle, Baxter College use St John's Middle, Stourport High use Burlish Middle, Wolverley High use Sion Hill Middle and King Charles I use Comberton Middle.

Comberton Middle headteacher, Julie Reilly, hit out at the plans and said her school was "completely separate" from King Charles I.

Mrs Reilly, chairman of the Worcestershire Middle School Headteachers' Association, said: "I am shocked and disappointed. It is not as if some of our sites are that close. How these new high schools will maintain a school ethos and climate are crucial issues and will prove difficult."

Mrs Reilly raised fears that the £160 million earmarked for the rebuilding was not yet secured by the council and work could, therefore, take longer.

Sion Hill Middle School's headteacher, Gordon Wainwright, said the plan would disrupt education and hit standards. He explained: "Effectively, the children will more or less just stay here.

"It can't be beneficial because there may be certain subjects they need to go to the high school for which they would require transportation."

The shake-up proposals were passed by the cabinet at Worcestershire County Council in July but will be reconsidered on November 11. This comes after rebel councillors "called in" the issue for debate at full council next Thursday.