A high-profile headteacher has backed a parents' campaign to save a school from closure.

Andy Schofield, from Varndean School, last night became the first secondary head in Brighton and Hove to publicly support the bid to keep open East Brighton College of Media Arts (Comart).

He told a meeting of more than 60 parents, staff and pupils to launch the rescue plan they would need support from education leaders across the city if their battle is to be successful.

He said: "I would add my support to your campaign. I was becoming very depressed but I was pleased that you have now got the campaign to this stage.

"There are many other people waiting in the wings to join you."

The school in Whitehawk is threatened with closure because of falling pupil numbers, high truancy rates and poor exam results.

But many parents, governors, teachers and community leaders believe it could be adapted to suit its community as a smaller school specialising in vocational studies.

Brighton and Hove City Council is holding a consultation, due to end on October 31, in which the only option put forward is closure.

Mr Schofield told the meeting, led by the Local Education Action Group, opinion among headteachers in the city was shifting.

He said: "I thought there was a shift in the ground brought about by this group. I have kept out of it until now because my views were not welcome and I was in a minority of two with Comart.

"The local education authority is getting worried because of the reaction in meetings, because they are under pressure from the Department for Education and Skills and because they have not thought this through."

Mr Schofield said he was worried closure was being talked about as if it was a done deal.

He said there already been talks with the LEA about dispersing the Year 9 students to other schools a year early.

But members of the LEAG said they were working hard to make people realise they could still make a difference.

One, Darren Snow, said: "The more people we can get the more we will gather along the way. Many people see this as done and dusted and it's hard to convince people otherwise but we firmly believe we can make a difference."

The LEAG has produced a report, which it will present to the LEA on Monday, which suggests a small community school with extended services on the Wilson Avenue site.

The LEA had looked at this option but campaigners felt they had not researched it properly and dismissed it out of hand.

They feared that if the school were to close it would be damaging to the regeneration of East Brighton.

They were also concerned closure would increase truancy as pupils would have to travel long distances, disrupt their education, and prevent many parents from being involved in their children's education.

Graham Allen, a community worker and member of the LEAG, said: "This model could be good.

"As it stands the budget is not enough to run the school on its own but I believe we could lever in resources from other areas.

"For the school to succeed it doesn't just need good teachers and facilities, it needs a community that supports it."

Campaigners said as well as approaching the council with their report they would continue to protest.

They had drawn up a questionnaire with the help of pupils which would be given to students to find out their views.

Liz Wylie, assistant director for children, families and schools at the LEA, said if there was a viable option it would be looked at carefully.

Georgia Wrighton, a Green Party councillor for Hanover and Elm Grove, said: "I attended the meeting last night and I fully support the aims of the LEAG in finding a new future for Comart.

"The decision to consult on closure has been made too hastily and without consideration of the potential regeneration benefits to the community in retaining secondary education.

"I hope that we can now get some really good partnerships working together and demonstrate that city-wide we are all going to do our best to support a successful future for this school and its community."