Two-tier education sees middle schools phased out

Changes to the school system in Pershore to create a "two-tier" system will be brought in from September 2027, the local authority has said.

Historically, the area has had a three-tier school system where children attended first schools from age four, middle school from age nine and high school from age 12.

Under the two-tier system, to be introduced by Worcestershire County Council, pupils would attend primary school until 11 and then go straight to secondary school.

Councillor David Chambers, cabinet member for education, described it as "a significant step".

Mr Chambers said the move would streamline the education system in the Pershore area to ensure children experienced "a smoother transition between school phases".

He said: "This originally came to us by the schools themselves, the head teachers, the governors and the parents.

"We were very happy to facilitate this."

He added: "I think it's an extremely positive outcome because I think it's important that we, as a local authority, try and provide an educational system that parents and schools would prefer themselves."

The changes to the education system in the town will start to be seen this year.

The council said it had been agreed to extend the age ranges of first schools to become primary schools by retaining Year 5 in September 2025 and then Year 6 in September 2026.

Middle schools in Pershore will no longer have admission into Year 5 for September 2025.

Pershore High School's intake will expand to accommodate all Year 7 pupils in the area from September 2027.

Chambers said: "I think the outcome will be that every child then, in the Pershore area, has a clear and transparent education journey.

"So I hope everyone will agree that this is the right thing to do."

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