Joining up with the closely-neighbouring Harting was seen as the most realistic option to stave off the county council's threat of closing the school altogether.

It has also won the backing of the school governing board, who voted unanimously early this week in favour of the Harting link.

Seventy people at the meeting for parents and villagers on Thursday voted for the move, against only 13 who favoured fighting on to keep Rogate on its own and with an additional Year 6.

A third option investigated by the Save Our School campaigners was an amalgamation with Rake Primary but only one hand went up in favour
of that.

Paul Hardwick, chairman of the governors, said this week: "The governors have been working closely with the parents and local community over the past five weeks on the counter proposal for the Rother Valley consultation.

"We have investigated three options for the future of the school in detail which has involved a significant amount of work by a core team of statisticians, researchers and analysts.

"The key focus areas have been on local demographics, parental preference trends, national trends, and WSCC-supplied data.

"Amalgamation with Harting is the only option we looked at which would meet the criteria laid down by West Sussex County Council for
successful schools in the short term.

"The other options would take a longer period of time to meet those criteria."

On Friday last week, the campaigners were given reason for a glimmer of optimism.

Parent Sasha Boam, headteacher Jenny Chapman and Mr Hardwick had a meeting with Mark Dunn, the county's cabinet member for education.

Mr Hardwick said: "He was very encouraged with the facts we were presenting to keep the school open."

He added: "The next few days will be focused on refining the counter proposal which will be presented to WSCC on April 7, along with all supporting documentation including all the letters we have received from parents and the community.

"As governors, we are extremely encouraged and energised by the huge amount of support we have received from parents and the community.

"Our public meetings have had excellent turn-outs and all along people have been positive and encouraging, many offering large amounts of their spare time to help with the campaign. We feel very positive about our proposal."

The county is due to publish its initial post-consultation recommendations in May or June.

Click the green button to the right to watch a video from the school.