'I'm gutted': Parents' anger at Coseley School closure

The council agreed the closure this week, citing the decision as being in the interests of pupils.

But enraged parent Michaela Garbett, from Roseville, said she was gutted by the decision.

She explained: "It is incredibly disappointing. None of our ward councillors were even at the meeting and we felt like it was just a done deal that was over with too quick.

"If they wanted to phase a closure then this should have happened 18 months ago as it would not have affected them so bad or the other schools then. We feel like this has been a decision made for some time.

"All we can do now is continue to support Coseley and the plans for a possible new school in 2020. But I'm gutted."

It comes as bosses vow to open a new establishment on the site by 2020 – with 'cutting edge education' at the forefront. The Henne Drive school will now undergo a phased closure over the next 12 months.

More than 250 people responded to a consultation over the closure, which ran from January to April.

Eighty four per cent of people did not support the closure despite the low pupil numbers, poor exam results and financial difficulties.

Speaking at the cabinet meeting on Thursday night, Councillor Cooper said: "This decision is about putting the needs of pupils first. We simply cannot allow this school to slip further down in terms of pupils numbers and the financial difficulties it is in.

"We have looked long and hard at this issue, but we have to do the right thing for everyone at The Coseley School.

"There are only 398 pupils now on roll, including 138 year 11 pupils who will leave at the end of this term.

"This means there are only 287 pupils still on roll for September, of which all but 179 have already applied for places at an alternative school.

"Of these, 91 are current year 10 pupils, who will stay at the school to finish exam courses, with approximately 30 in each of the other years. This is simply not sustainable."

Thousands of angry parents have battled to save the school, with a petition gathering more than 2,000 signatures in recent months.

The school is currently judged by Ofsted as 'requiring improvement'.

Last year pupils at the school achieved 31 per cent five A*-C GCSEs, including English and maths, placing it in the bottom 10 per cent of schools in the country.

Leisure facilities on the site are expected to remain open to the public following the closure.