PARENTS have been reassured their children won't be forced to transfer to another site when their school is taken over by a comprehensive this summer.

The pledge comes after Stoke-on-Trent City Council was accused of reneging on a promise to keep open the site at Longton High, Meir, for three years so pupils could see out their education there.

Longton is due to shut as a school in its own right in August, when Sandon Business and Enterprise College will become responsible for the building and students.

The latest concerns were raised after parents received a letter from the local authority, asking them to state a preference for where their children would go in September.

They were given four options, including staying at the Longton High site, transferring to the main Sandon site in Meir, moving to Edensor Technology College, in Longton, or opting for another school with spare places.

Staff and governors at Longton High say they were kept in the dark about the developments.

Longton's headteacher, Jan Webber, said: "Parents couldn't understand why they were being asked to make a choice now, when they thought their children were staying at the Longton site. They felt they had been lied to."

Now parents fear if all the pupils are pressurised to transfer to Sandon's site, there will not be enough room.

The 750-place school is already oversubscribed, although there are plans to expand it in future.

There are 158 pupils directly affected by the closure of Longton High, who are all in years eight, nine and 10. Many will be taking GCSEs next year.

Unless their parents ask to move to another school, the pupils will automatically join Sandon's roll. Longton High's staff will also transfer to Sandon's books.

Alison Cotton, chairman of governors at Longton High, said: "It was only when Sandon's chairman of governors contacted me to say there was a briefing paper about the options that I found out about them. The council claimed it was an oversight that our school wasn't told."

Stoke-on-Trent South MP Rob Flello fears the letter was an attempt to shut the Longton High site early.

He added: "Just before the letter was received, there were people out valuing the school site."

Mr Flello claimed the council has made a "catalogue of broken promises".

He said: "One promise was that parents wouldn't have to spend money on another uniform because they were staying at the Longton site. Now they are being told they will have to wear Sandon's uniform."

Robert Taylor, from Meir Hay, sends his 13-year-old daughter to Longton High.

He said: "I feel as if they just want to shut the school as soon as possible. All the parents I've spoken to say they want their children to stay at Longton, but they aren't going to keep the facilities for just a small number of children.

"They haven't really given us a choice. My daughter will have to move up to Sandon."

Councillor Ian Mitchell, member for children and young people's services, today tried to alleviate concerns.

He said: "There is no compulsion for them to move away from the Longton site if they do not wish to.

"If, however, a large number would choose to move to the Sandon site, or another school, then there will be the facility to accommodate them."