Fears children from a Norfolk town will have to be sent to Cambridgeshire schools have seen a major admissions shake-up unveiled in the west of the county.

Downham Market Academy has grown so oversubscribed that education bosses opened talks with colleagues in Cambridgeshire in case youngsters have to cross the border for school places.

But now, County Hall has unveiled a new shake-up which it hopes will free up spaces at the Downham secondary school by shedding some of its named feeder schools.

Currently, Downham Market Academy has 11 local schools feeding into it from surrounding villages.

However, should the changes go ahead it will see two of these removed from its existing catchment area.

The shake-up will also see two of the region's other secondary schools - King's Lynn Academy and Marshland High School in West Walton expand their catchment areas.

Consultations into the proposals for King's Lynn Academy and Marshland have been opened by County Hall, with a two month window for people to voice any concerns.

The changes will see:

  • Watlington Community Primary School added to the catchment area of King's Lynn Academy
  • Upwell Academy added to the catchment area of Marshland High
  • Beaupre Community Primary School also join Marshland High's catchment area.

While Downham Market Academy is due to have an extension built next year to help it accommodate more pupils, it continues to see demand outstrip the supply of places.

James Wilson, director of education strategy at County Hall said: "During the recent admissions rounds, there has been issues for children and their families living within the catchment area of Downham Market Academy not being offered places at their local school.

"The issue was more pronounced for those living further from the academy.

"When a preferred school cannot be offered, we must provide a place at the nearest available school. In our rural area, this often means children have to travel some distance, usually requiring home-to-school transport.

"We are optimistic that the proposed changes will help alleviate some of the pressure on school places in the area."