Petition to stop The Coseley School from closing hits 1,700

The school, which has 557 pupils, is planned to be shut. They have staged public protests outside council meetings and quizzed leaders during debates over the issue. The petition, created by Michaela Garbett, of Roseville, who has a daughter in Year 8, has now been signed by more than 1,700 people.

On the web page created to promote the petition, she wrote: "Our children need a school and closing it will make a massive impact on both our children's lives – and us as parents will have to make a huge decision as to what school is best for them.

"There will also be an environmental impact as more children will have to be driven to a school further away."

But Dudley Council leader Pete Lowe has insisted the decision on the school's future was by no means a 'done deal.'

Around 120 parents, staff and pupils attended the meeting earlier this month at the school. Officials say the school, in Henne Drive, is operating at half its 975 capacity, and saw last year's GCSE results placing it bottom in the borough.

Councillor Lowe said the school had been failing for a 'considerable time', but parents say action should have been taken sooner to tackle the issue.

UKIP Councillor Star Anderton has been assisting campaigners in their bid and says parents are still demanding further talks.

"At the moment they are almost feeling like its a done deal," she said. "They are still trying their best."

Councillor Ian Cooper, cabinet member for children's services, said the council was still in early talks about the future of the school for the benefit of all pupils, which he said remained a top priority. The planned public consultation will end on April 5.