PROTESTORS opposed to the plan to close The Coseley School descended on the steps of Dudley Council House in force last night (Monday) to get their message across.

Pupils and their parents turned out with banners and chanted Save Our School as the council’s cabinet got underway at 6pm.

Earlier that day the council launched a consultation on the potential closure of school – which council bosses say has falling pupil numbers and exam results.

Councillor Ian Cooper, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “Proposing the closure of the school is very much the last resort and not something we have taken lightly.

“During recent years it has experienced a dramatic decline in pupil numbers, which are forecast to drop even more over the next three years, as well as results below the national minimum standards.

“We know the school has worked hard to try and raise attainment but unfortunately all these factors have led us to take this action.

“These are some difficult decisions being made but I can reassure people that children’s educational interests are paramount to any decision in line with our role as corporate parents.”

The school has a ‘requires improvement’ ranking from Ofsted following an earlier ‘inadequate’ status in 2012 - and has just 557 pupils, just over half of its 975 capacity.

Last year’s GCSE results placed it bottom of all borough secondary schools for five A* to C grades including English and maths; and just 54 parents, including some from outside the borough, have chosen the school as their first preference for September 2016 against a maximum intake of 195.

The fall in pupil numbers has also impacted on the school’s finances, authority chiefs say.

Alternative schools with spare capacity to take pupils from The Coseley School if it closes have already been identified.

But former councillor Sue Ridney, chairman of the governors at the school, says sending pupils to other schools in the area “would cripple them”.

She said Coseley has lost enough and she’s fighting to save the school from closure. She added: “It's the last public building in Coseley; it has had so much taken away from it.”

The former Labour councillor praised the youngsters and their parents who turned out to protest about the closure plan, adding : “They made their own banners and made up a song. They’ve worked very hard and they’ve made their point – very much so; they don’t want their school to close.”

People have until April 5 to have their say on the future of the school.

The consultation document can be accessed via the homepage on the council’s website at www.dudley.gov.uk Meetings with parents and staff and other interested parties are also planned as part of the formal consultation.

If the decision to close the school is approved it will be a phased closure – and year 10 students would stay on to minimise disruption to their GCSE studies.

The school’s sports facilities would, however, remain open; and education bosses have made a commitment to maintain the site as an education facility for the community but details have yet to be determined.

Meanwhile - Dudley's UKIP group has pledged to do “everything in its power” to support parents in their fight to save the school.

Dudley UKIP group leader Councillor Paul Brothwood said: “UKIP Dudley Group will fight the recommended closure of The Coseley School.

"Coseley, as an area, has been treated disgracefully by the council as was seen with the closure of the baths.”

He added: "This whole thing is a total stitch-up. The consultation is a charade and I am appalled the decision was made by the cabinet behind closed doors despite calls to open it to the public."

Coseley East Councillor Star Anderton, who attended last night’s protest, added: “Where are the kids, from the 900-plus homes being built, going to go to school? It’s totally ridiculous. Closure of the school makes no sense at all at any level. This school is at the heart of the Coseley community.”

UKIP West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge, who is also a Dudley borough councillor, added: “We, as a group, are totally opposed to the closure of The Coseley School and we will do everything in our power to support parents in their battle to save it.”