Staunton Community Sports College in Leigh Park could be closed from 2011 under Hampshire County Council plans, with pupils moving to two nearby schools instead.

The plan has sparked opposition from the Havant Federation of six schools and nearly 100 students, parents and teachers travelled on Wednesday to loudly protest while holding Save Our School and Say no 2 closure placards.

The man in charge of education in Hampshire, Coun-cillor David Kirk, decided to press ahead with an eight-month consultation which includes the option to close the school.

But crucially an amendment has been made by the council's director of children's services, John Coughlan, that offers a new option of keeping every Havant school open.

Staunton's chair of governors, Commander Alan Wilde, had mixed feelings after the meeting. He said: 'We're disappointed the whole thing has not been thrown out but we're pleased the federation's solution has been allowed. The officers told us the preferred solution was to close Staunton but that has now changed.