Kirklees Cabinet met last Wednesday to formally rubber-stamp the closure of Grylls Community Middle School in Hightown.

It follows a lengthy campaign by the school to stay open, and is the conclusion of a statutory consultation process which began last May.

As reported previously in the Guardian and Herald, the school will now close at the end of the summer term, with the remaining pupils transferring to a 'mini-school' within Whitcliffe Mount Business College.

When they reach year nine, they will become part of the main school, joining their peers who will, by then, have transferred from other middle schools within the pyramid.

Cabinet member Margaret Bates, whose ward includes Grylls, said it was a very sad day, but it finally ended the uncertainty which had surrounded the school for years.

"There will be some relief from those involved that the decision has been made," she said.

"Children, parents and staff can now move forward.

"I would like to thank the children who wanted their school to continue and made their voices heard. I'd also like to thank the parents and teachers.

"It's been a tremendous school in the past, but try as we might, it was impossible to keep it open."

The decision to close was made because of the low number of pupils and a poor Ofsted report in February 2007.

It was placed in special measures and given a year to turn itself round or face closure.

But Kirklees decided the mountain was too high to climb and while the decision was regrettable, they felt they had no option but to close the school from July 2008.

Just two months later after their announcement, the school celebrated "astounding" SATs results which made it one of the most improved schools in the country.

However it came too late for Grylls - which has served Hightown for over half a century - to be saved.