EDUCATION bosses were under fire for drawing up plans to change the county's school system at the same time as pleading for extra cash.

City MP Mike Foster said he was "amazed" Worcestershire County Council had no idea how much it would cost to re-organise first, middle and upper schools in Wyre Forest.

The council is consulting on plans to scrap the existing three-tier system and replace it with primary and secondary schools.

They have reviewed the two-tier system in Worcester, are currently concentrating on Wyre Forest, then they intend to examine schools in the Evesham and Pershore areas.

Mr Foster, a Parliamentary aide in the Education Department, wrote to the council for an estimate of the cost of implementing the change.

But education chief Julien Kramer replied no figures were available - despite fears the bill could run in to tens of millions of pounds.

Mr Kramer said: "It's too early to have any details of our capital requirements. Officers will be working towards Christmas as consultation develops."

Labour MP Mr Foster questioned the wisdom of carrying out an uncosted consultation at the same time as the county was seeking millions of pounds extra for cash-strapped schools.

He said: "I am amazed at this approach - proper consultation involves getting the facts out beforehand, not after the closing date for replies.

"It strikes me that the county council has made up its mind already and this whole consultation is just a joke. Unfortunately, the last laugh is on local parents and pupils who are being let down.

"Given that the county council says there are no educational benefits in changing the system, it would be understandable if they wanted a more efficient system.

"But without proper costings, how can people make this judgement? How can people in Worcestershire have any faith in the outcome of this review?

"Given that the same council is always saying it's badly off, they really should be more careful in committing themselves to future spending.

"How are parents in Wyre Forest going to feel if they support a change that they are then told is unaffordable?"

However Adrian Hardman, the council's cabinet member for resources, said Mr Foster was confusing two separate areas of finance.

"This review is being funded by capital money and, with the option to borrow and use PFIs, we have always been confident we will be able to afford whatever the consequences of the study are," he said.

"This is especially the case as we could be taking surplus places out of the Wyre Forest area, which would save us capital money. However, none of this helps our problems on the revenue - or more immediate - side."

The Wyre Forest consultation, which looks at ways of cutting surplus places and improving standards, closes on November 28.