Jilly Cooper praised the GCSE results at Barnwood Park

Ms Cooper handed in a petition with over 15,000 signatures calling for all the city's schools to stay open.

The county council is proposing a series of educational reforms, including the closure of Gloucester's only single-sex schools.

Miles Bailey, from the Save Our Schools Campaign, said: ""The LEA did say that no change was an option."

He said: "We understand that this is still officially an option and we are saying let's take the no change option."

Some of Gloucester's best performing schools could be closed under the proposals to reduce the gap between the lowest and highest achievers.

In another option recommended by the council, the all-girls Barnwood Park High School for Girls could merge with the city's male-only Central Technology College to form a new comprehensive.

The move has been opposed by Muslims in the city who say it is important that both their sons and daughters can be educated in single sex schools.

Ms Cooper, who is based in the Cotswolds, said: "Barnwood Park High School had 100% passes in the GCSE results this year and that's incredible.

"It's such a caring school."

Parents have just two days left to have their say on the review of the city's secondary schools.