Angry parents, pupils, staff and governors fighting to save a closure-threatened school will hold a protest on the steps of Dudley Council House tonight.

They are up in arms about proposals to shut Pensnett High School next year because of falling pupil numbers and poor exam results.

It follows a demonstration attended by more than 80 people and Dudley South MP Ian Pearson outside the school in Tiled House Lane on Saturday.

Protesters waving banners and placards saying “Save Our School” converged on the site after Dudley Council announced a public consultation on the school’s future. If the closure is approved the pupils would be sent to neighbouring schools.

The protest was organised by parent Amanda Howse, aged 41, of Swan Street, whose 15-year-old daughter Hannah attends the school.

She said she was pleased with the turnout, adding: “These plans will rip the heart out of the community. We don’t want to lose the school.”

Parent governor Sue Millward, aged 44, said: “Closing the school will have a huge impact on the pupils especially the Year 10s who will be halfway through their GCSE courses and will have them disrupted.”

Year 9 pupil Megan Parker, aged 14, said: “I don’t want the school to close. It will mess up my GCSEs because I will have to finish them at a different school.”

Mr Pearson said: “It is absolutely vital that local parents have a full say on the future education of their children.

“Clearly there is substantial concern locally about the plans to close Pensnett High School. I am very concerned that children’s education will be disrupted if the school closes next year.

“Parents have told me they are concerned about children who will be in Year 10 and will be halfway through GCSEs and there is also a lot of concern about the shortage of places at other schools. The council has got to listen to parents to make sure the plans reflect the views of local people and are in the best interests of the children.”

Cabinet member for children’s services Councillor Liz Walker has previously assured parents that the council will work to ensure children are not at a disadvantage and will receive the “best possible education”.

The school’s GCSE pass rate of pupils attaining five GCSEs, including English and maths, dropped to just 11 per cent last year. This is below the national target of 30 per cent.

Pupil numbers at the school have also dropped significantly and are well below the 650 capacity.

In January there were just 402 pupils and projected numbers for the new term in September are down again at just 312.