BENTHAM Grammar School is to close and be born again as Sedbergh Junior School.

Dwindling numbers and the resignation of the head, Ruth Colman, threatened the viability of the public school founded in 1726.

As pupil numbers fell to just 130, staff embarked on a last-ditch marketing campaign to try to bring in more children but numbers failed to rise.

There were fears the school, formerly a vicarage, would close, resulting in the loss of local jobs but governors approached Sedbergh Public School, which was looking to expand.

Now Sedbergh, whose former pupils include ex-England rugby captain Will Carling, is to take over the site and accommodate all Bentham's existing junior pupils.

However, its senior school pupils will have to apply and be interviewed for places.

Sedbergh's marketing director Paul Wallace-Woodroffe said: "Bentham Grammar governors approached us as they were increasingly concerned about the situation.

"Their pupil numbers have halved in the last five years. There wasn't anything we could do at the time. They then went on a death row marketing campaign for pupils but it was not a success.

"The governors came back to us in 2000 and said the end was nigh. At that time we were converting to co-education and it has really taken off. We now have 100 girls.

"We had an intake of 122 last year and will have 140 pupils this September, which means our annual intake is greater than Bentham School as a whole.

"For a few years we have been looking at expanding or moving our junior school but hadn't found a site. Now we have."

Sedbergh senior school has 400 pupils and it is anticipated the junior school in Bentham will cater for a further 200 children aged from three to 13.

Bentham School originally stood in High Bentham, then moved to the former boarding house Moonsacre, now a private residence, and in the 1940s moved onto the current site in Low Bentham, a former vicarage.

Bentham Grammar School governor and Craven District Councillor Gerald Hurtley said: "It is disappointing to see Bentham School closing but a good thing for Bentham that a prominent school like Sedbergh is coming in."

Sedbergh School is planning to invest heavily in the site and will be carrying out major refurbishment works over the summer.

Mr Wallace-Woodroffe added that the school would endeavour to help all current Bentham pupils and their families.

He said: "This is good news for the catering staff and the shops who sell food to Bentham School. It is good news for Bentham and good news for the village because without it the fear is it could have become a building site.

"The younger pupils will benefit from larger classes and will benefit from having more people to play sport.

"Not that long ago our junior school was in Kirkby Lonsdale and Bentham is still close enough to Sedbergh to keep strong links. We hope we can protect the local economy in terms of catering and support staff."

Existing junior teachers at Bentham who wish to join Sedbergh will be taken on although senior school teachers will have to apply for posts.

Bentham School will close on July 12 and reopen as Sedbergh Junior School in September.