SCHOOLS have been warned to expect "short-term pain" in the district's biggest education shake-up for 30 years to raise standards and tackle surplus places.

In the first of three Wyre Forest public meetings, Stourport teachers, governors and parents were told falling pupil numbers and below-average standards had to be addressed.

Worcestershire County Council's head of education policy development Colin Weeden said the review would also focus on other key issues such as the recruitment and retention of staff and modernising crumbling buildings - as well as the two-tier versus three-tier debate.

Currently Wyre Forest schools are organised into a first, middle and high school system but in other areas of the county there are just primary and secondary schools.

Mr Weeden stressed change to a two-tier system - which he acknowledged would be more expensive at first - was not inevitable and added investment was needed whatever the outcome.

He pledged: "We try and reflect the views of an area."

Mr Weeden went on: "I can assure you some of the secondary schools in Wyre Forest need a significant amount of money to get them up to an acceptable standard."

He said surplus places were concentrated in Kidderminster as many town children were schooled elsewhere and explained the falling birth rate would mean first schools were "particularly vulnerable" to closure or merger - although eventually the whole system would be affected.

Responding to a query about whether "any good schools could go", Mr Weeden said the county would have to "bite the bullet" and close one of two good neighbouring schools if pupil numbers were insufficient.

And he agreed with audience concerns that changes would not be easy for pupils or staff.

He said: "Trying to settle down to any restructuring in the first year is pretty traumatic."

But he pledged: "One of the things we always try and minimise is disruption - children have only got one chance at education."

Mr Weeden stressed changes were essential because despite continuing improvements standards in the district were still not good enough.

Worcestershire was below the shire county average and Wyre Forest fell short of the typical Worcestershire performance, he said.

After the meeting Stourport High School head teacher Liz Quinn told the Shuttle/Times and News: "I'm absolutely delighted the county council has recognised the need for investment in education because we haven't had any."

She added she understood concerns about disruption but said schools had to cater for future as well as present generations.

SCHOOLS REVIEW FACTFILE

WYRE Forest is the latest part of the county to undergo the once-in-a-generation review.

Worcestershire County Council will consult all 52 district schools later this year as well as holding at least two more similar public meetings in Bewdley and Kidderminster.

The final decision on school closures and investment will be taken by the School Organisation Committee - which includes representatives of the county council and school governors - and will be implemented from September 2005.

Colin Weeden explained the 10-strong county council cabinet will look at options in May and decide whether to go to consultation with an open mind or a preferred route.

Cabinet member John Gordon, who represents Stourport on the county council, declared his opposition to a two-tier system at the Stourport meeting but claimed his colleagues had already made up their minds to go for change.

Mr Weeden said some areas like Redditch had kept a three-tier system whereas others such as Hagley have gone two-tier.

But he stressed whatever the outcome large amounts of money would be needed - £15 million has been earmarked for Redditch.