Liberal Democrat County Councillor for Claines, Mel Allcott, has raised serious concerns over the Reform-led County Council’s decision making over plans for secondary school places calling it “a high-risk retreat from long-term education sufficiency.”
The decision, made by the Reform Cabinet has stopped work on a long-planned school on Newtown Road and removes £33.6 million from the county’s capital programme. The cabinet instead agreed to further investigation into other options, with a follow-up report expected within six months.
At the Full Council meeting on 6th November, Cllr Allcott said:
“This reversal leaves Worcester City without a confirmed capacity plan for secondary places beyond 2028. Simply investigating whether pupils can be sent elsewhere is not a deliverable strategy. Worcester’s families deserve a clear, credible plan — not uncertainty.”
Four options were originally considered by the council:
1. Continuing with the Newtown Road secondary school (£63.3 million projected cost).
2. Expanding existing Worcester secondary schools (limited feasibility).
3. Developing provision on the County Hall site (ruled out as ‘not viable’).
4. Using capacity in schools outside the city, such as Malvern, Droitwich, Pershore, and Upton.
Cllr Allcott outlined seven major concerns with the cabinet’s approach, including a failure to meet statutory duties, over-reliance on out-of-area schools, and a lack of transparency or evidence behind the decision.
“The council risks breaching its legal duty under the Education Act to ensure sufficient school places,” she said. “Halting the principal project over a modest 5–7% cost increase, without any published value-for-money analysis, is a false economy.”
She also criticised the feasibility work that ruled out County Hall as a possible site for additional education provision:
“The report dismisses County Hall without showing the evidence. Its proximity to Nunnery Wood High School could allow for shared facilities or an annex model — but that’s not been properly explored.”
Cllr Allcott warned that immediate sufficiency risks exist for the 2026–2028 academic years, with only £2.6 million allocated to secure extra places.
“Without short-term capacity measures — such as modular classrooms — the council will fall short of providing enough places. We must act now to avoid disruption for families.”
The Liberal Democrat councillor concluded by calling for urgent transparency and a credible recovery plan:
“Education planning must be based on evidence, not politics. The council should immediately publish a clear risk register showing expected shortfalls and mitigation plans, and re-evaluate the Newtown Road project within three months, including phased or co-funded delivery. Worcester’s children cannot afford more delay.”
Watch Councillor Allcott’s comments:
