HALF of Herefordshire's high schools started the new term squeezed to capacity, with the county council unable to guarantee any more room for newcomers, writes BILL TANNER.

More than 2,000 pupils transferred from the primary to secondary sector this month, and though none were without a school place by the end of the first week of term, about four per cent of parents did not have their top preference.

Fifty appeals were heard in relation to Year 7 transfers, of which 16 were successful.

Papers prepared for Herefordshire Council's education scrutiny committee now show seven of the county's 14 high schools as at or beyond their admission number.

As a result, pupils moving into or within the county may find it difficult to obtain places at their local school. Nor can the authority reserve places for 'anticipated newcomers' to the catchment areas of oversubscribed schools.

Capacity up

According to the LEA's sums admissions at secondary level will continue to increase until 2004, then follow a fall in primary sector of around 2,000 expected over the next decade.

From figures earlier this year high schools had 9,816 pupils, compared to 9,252 in January 1999.

This rise reflects larger year groups moving into the secondary sector, and a small growth in the four schools based sixth forms.

Capacity is up from 10,384 places to 10,592, but not at the same rate as pupil numbers. Surplus space has fallen from 1,320 places to 1,081.

Whitecross (Hereford), Haywood (Hereford) and John Masefield (Ledbury) were said to be 'effectively operating' with at least one for of entry (i.e 30 pupils) more than in previous years.

At the other end of the scale 1,600 applications were made for admissions to reception classes in Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools, 11 of which are oversubscribed.

Statutory appeals were heard in 11 cases - one was successful.

Two Voluntary Aided schools are also at capacity.

l PUBLISHED Admission Numbers (PANs) for Herefordshire's High Schools and their Year 7 Number on Roll (NOR) as at September 2001.

Aylestone High (Hereford) PAN: 253. NOR: 253.

Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat (Hereford) PAN: 232 NOR: 225.

Haywood (Hereford) PAN: 208 NOR: 218.

St. Mary's R.C. PAN: 126 NOR: 120

Whitecross (Hereford) PAN: 180 NOR: 174.

Queen Elizabeth (Bromyard) PAN: 125 NOR: 73.

Kingstone PAN: 130 NOR: 136

Lady Hawkins (Kington) PAN: 88 NOR: 67

John Masefield (Ledbury) PAN: 174 NOR: 204

The Minster College (Leominster) PAN: 195 NOR: 149

Fairfield (Peterchurch) PAN: 60 NOR: 64

John Kyrle (Ross-on-Wye) PAN: 236 NOR: 208

Weobley PAN: 90 NOR: 100

Wigmore PAN: 90 NOR: 118