SCHOOLS and colleges in the Cotswolds fear they could lose out on pupils and funding if two Stroud grammar schools increase their student intake.

Both Marling School and Stroud High School are considering increasing their pupil numbers by 25 per cent from September next year – which would be around 60 places in total.

The schools say they are over subscribed, and that more places will be needed as there are plans to build 9,500 new homes in Stroud in the next 15 years.

However, Gloucestershire County Council said it was not expecting an increase in demand for school places in Stroud before 2021.

Headteachers fear that an increase at the Stroud schools would cause a reduction in the number of pupils attending Cotswold schools – and therefore a cut in government funding.

Chiquita Henson, headteacher of Deer Park School in Cirencester, said Stroud High and Marling's plans were surprising "at a time when there are surplus secondary school places and falling rolls across Stroud and the South Cotswolds".

She added: "This has been confirmed by the local authority. The addition of 60 new places will inevitably impact on other schools in the area, both in terms of pupil numbers and funding.

“It is likely that over time any proposed new housing, once built, will generate more pupils, but not as soon as September 2016.

"It is clear from their correspondence that the grammar schools plan to extend their reach and this will regrettably mean more pupils travelling out of Cirencester, a town which has two strong comprehensive schools and outstanding post 16 provision, each day.”

Stephen Mackay, headteacher at Sir William Romney’s School in Tetbury, said that because state schools receive funding per pupil, many could experience financial difficulties if the grammar schools increase admissions.

He said: “Increasing admission numbers impacts on other schools and inevitably further disadvantages children who are already disadvantaged."

Libby Reed, vice principal of Cirencester College, said the creaming off of the brightest is a threat to comprehensive schools being able to develop their high end students and maintain their top results and comparative standards.

She said: “Every year with the publication of School League Tables, intelligent people express their amazement that schools with very high entry requirements do academically better than those without, which is not exactly rocket science.”

She added that there is no need for students to take long journeys to schools in Stroud when there are excellent schools and sixth forms in Cirencester.

Stroud High School governors were to due make a decision on whether to increase the school’s admission numbers on Wednesday as the Standard was going to press, while Marling governors will decide on Tuesday.

Stroud High School and Marling School declined to comment on their proposals when approached by the Standard.