Governors at a Bradford secondary school have voted to close its doors for good as part of plans to reorganise Catholic education across the district.

In summer 2006, the Diocese of Leeds, which runs Catholic schools in the region, outlined plans to close Yorkshire Martyrs Catholic College in Tong and focus provision at St Bede's Catholic Grammar in Highgate and St Joseph's school on Cunliffe Road, Manningham.

Under the proposals, St Bede's and St Joseph's would federate to form one super-school, scheduled to open in September 2009.

This week, the latest step in the long-running saga saw governors at Yorkshire Martyrs agree to the school's closure on a date yet to be announced. Teachers at the Westgate Hill Street school were told of the decision today. Parents are set to be notified by letter.

In a separate move, the governing bodies of all three schools also voted to federate - with immediate effect.

A spokesman for the Diocese of Leeds, said: "The governing bodies of St Bede's Catholic Grammar School, St Joseph's Catholic College and Yorkshire Martyrs Catholic College voted to establish one federated governing body for the three schools. This governing body will provide the leadership for the future development of Catholic secondary education within Bradford.

"The governors at Yorkshire Martyrs College have also voted to propose the closure of their school.

"It is recognised by all three governing bodies that these changes can and do have an unsettling effect on all those involved but the future of Catholic secondary education in Bradford depends on effective and strategic planning for the future.

"This is a significant and exciting moment for the Catholic community in Bradford as together the single governing body will be able to plan for the best possible provision for the Catholic secondary pupils in their care."

The Diocese of Leeds announced the controversial move because of declining pupil numbers. However, their plan has angered a large group of parents with children at all three schools and Catholic primaries in the south of the city.

If approved, the new co-educational school will be the district's biggest with around 3,000 pupils.

John McLeod, the Council's interim education officer, said: "We will work closely with the Diocese to examine the implications of these proposals and we look forward to further discussions after Christmas."

Ian Murch, Bradford NUT branch secretary, said: "We have had meetings with members at the schools and talked to them about what might happen in the future. We would welcome a greater degree of clarity as to what might happen at all three schools.

"The future of the staff that teach these children and the children themselves needs to be resolved as soon as possible."