SCHOOL shake-up plans in Bromsgrove look likely to get the go-ahead tomorrow (Thursday) despite protests from parents.

Hundreds of new homes in the town have forced education chiefs to take a fresh look at which schools children can go to.

From September, The Oakalls estate could come in the catchment area for Finstall First School, in Crompton Road, if recommendations are accepted by Worcestershire County Council's cabinet.

Part of the existing catchment area for Finstall would be transferred to Charford First School.

The only change to a proposal from April last year is to make it clear that brothers and sisters of children already at Finstall will be exempt from the switch.

But Ian Rybinski, a parent governor at Aston Fields Middle School, said Finstall residents had reported the Local Education Authority to the Ombudsman last year.

"The authority was told to go back and take a further consultation," he said.

"Of the responses, 63 were against the move - about 90 per cent. So they've held a consultation and just ignored the results. I can't see how they can push this through."

June Longmuir, county councillor for Bromsgrove South and cabinet member for education, said she was sympathetic.

"There isn't a solution to suit everybody," she said.

"We have to look at what is safe for the children and the alternative was to send them a long way to Meadows First School."

Mr Rybinski said the residents would consider questioning the legality of the decision. But Mrs Longmuir said the Ombudsman had only insisted on a further consultation and not on the outcome.