Several secondary schools in Worcestershire are full or over capacity.

Department for Education data shows that seven secondary schools in Worcestershire were at or above full capacity as of May 1 last year.

In total, 6,213 pupils in the area were affected by overcrowded schools, among around 880,000 nationwide.

Across England, 22 percent of secondary schools reached this threshold last year, the highest proportion in a decade.

The Association of School and College Leaders said the record rate is the result of increased demand for places at school with higher-rated Ofsted reports, leading to spare capacity at lower-rated schools.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the organisation, added: “It drives a vicious cycle with improvement harder to secure in schools which face the greatest challenges.

"The current approach needs a rethink so that it is more supportive and less punitive, and so that every family has access to a good local school place.”

In Worcestershire, the busiest secondary school was St John's Church of England Middle School Academy, which had 600 school places but 654 children on its roll, nine percent overcapacity.

The Education Policy Institute said overcrowding increases the average class size, placing additional demands on teachers.

Jon Andrews, EPI’s head of analysis, said more pupils means schools are more likely to be oversubscribed leaving pupils at less preferred schools or going through the appeals and waiting list systems.

He added: "Our research shows that pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds are less likely to be successful than others via these routes."

Despite the increase in overcrowded secondary schools, just 17 per cent of English primaries were at or over capacity last year, the lowest rate since records began in 2009-10.

This included 27 in Worcestershire – down from 36 in 2018-19.

A DfE spokeswoman said: “The vast majority of pupils will be offered a place at one of their preferred schools this coming year.

"Pupils are also now more likely to have a place at a good school now – with 87% of schools rated good or outstanding now compared to 68% in 2010.”

This is down by one from 2018-19 – the most recent comparable year due to pandemic restrictions.