Campaigners had battled to save the school by putting forward a case showing how it could continue as an 11-19 school with a small 11-16 department of up to 400 pupils.

But today they finally lost their battle after County Hall's Cabinet approved proposals to close the school from September 2011.

Education chiefs at County Hall claimed the projected numbers of 11-16 year-old pupils were much higher than current forecasts and believed a school of that size would limit curriculum choices for pupils aged 11-16.

In December the county council launched a consultation on the school's future due to concerns about a lack of Year 7 entrants.

Of the 1,413 responses 28 per cent agreed with the council's preferred option of closure while 35 per cent were in favour of 'Option 6' put forward by King Edward VII governors for it to continue as an 11-19 school with a small 11-16 unit.

More to follow.