Dormston School's legal threat over influx of Coseley School pupils

A school could take legal action against a Black Country council in protest at being forced to take in extra pupils from an axed neighbouring Coseley School, it can be revealed.

Governors at Dormston School in Sedgley said an influx of pupils from the Coseley School would leave it unable to cope and have now moved to try and stop more pupils being forced on them.

Leaders are unhappy at being told they must take on more pupils from Coseley School which is due to close – but Dudley Council insists the school should be able to manage an increase, leading to an extraordinary stand off.

Council bosses insist Dormston has room for another 80 pupils and says school leaders have not provided proof they would be negatively impacted.

Some children have already been accepted by Dormston – and governors said they had already taken more than originally wanted – but the school is not willing to take any more.

Dormston has recently come out of special measures and leaders are concerned a sudden surge in pupils could impact on its progress and put pressure on teachers and class sizes.

The school has said it intends to write to the Department of Education over the dispute and governor Michael Evans, who is also a Dudley councillor, told the Express & Star: "We are in touch with our lawyers on that one. We have taken a few more pupils from Coseley but not the extent that the council want us to.

"We went through special measures and the headteacher has done a tremendous job in taking us forward. We are still going forward from special measures and we feel it is unjust."

The school has also complained that it was only given six months' notice that new pupils would be arriving.

Mr Evans said Dormston's challenge could delay children moving from Coseley, adding to uncertainty for many families.

Dudley Council's education boss Councillor Ian Cooper said: "We're extremely disappointed Dormston School is objecting to admitting a number of additional pupils to the school.

"For some time we have been working with schools near to Coseley, including Dormston when they've received admissions requests from parents of the current years 7, 8 and 9 Coseley pupils, to ensure disruption to these young people and their families is kept to a minimum.

"The pupils' education and welfare has always been, and will continue to be, our top priority."

Dudley Council took the decision to close Coseley School due to falling pupil numbers.

The latest row comes after governors went public with their concerns in April.

In a strongly worded letter to parents, school governors said they had been told the school 'must admit' the extra pupils and that the level of demand would cause 'significant problems'.