Dozens of families have rejected the opportunity for their children to move to a prestigious rival when their independent school closes down this week.

It has emerged that a large number of girls from St Mary's Hall School, in Eastern Road, Brighton, will not be taking up places offered to them by Roedean when it completed a takeover in February.

Several parents spoke of their unhappiness at the offer at the time.

Many would have had to pay higher significantly higher fees, despite bursaries being offered by Roedean, and a number had reservations about the different ethos of the schools.

When St Mary's Hall closes its doors for the final time on Friday (July 3) a large number of the girls will move in different directions.

Brighton and Hove High School, in Denmark Terrace, Brighton, said it had given places to a significant number of children both in its junior and senior school, although it declined to give an exact number.

Moira House School, in Eastbourne, also declined to give figures but said it had taken on a significant amount of day and boarding pupils who were leaving St Mary's Hall.

Admissions director Eric Reynolds said: "It would not be right of us to go into numbers but what I can say by way of indication is that we have extended our minibus service to Brighton because of it. We previously only went as far as Seaford."

Both schools have fees closer to St Mary's Hall than Roedean. Brighton and Hove High has termly fees in its senior school of £3,100 and Moira House's termly rates start at £3,400. St Mary's Hall was charging from £3,286 per term, while Roedean's start at £4,725.

Brighton and Hove City Council said it had also allocated places at its schools to six pupils of the closing schools.

Parent David Wertans, whose 13-year-old daughter Emily will move to Steyning Grammar, said resentment remained at the handling of the closure. The news was broken to families by their daughters, who were told in an assembly.

Mr Wertans said: "The emotions have calmed but everyone is now trying to do the best thing for our children. A lot of parents have already taken their daughters out of the school."

Staff at St Mary's Hall said despite the exodus the majority of their pupils would transfer to Roedean, particularly the 100 in the junior school, which would be rebranded as Roedean Junior.

Eleven teachers have been made redundant by the merger, along with an undisclosed number of support staff.

St Mary's Hall had reported debts of almost £2million in was struggling with falling pupil numbers before Roedean's intervention.

The existing senior school building will be left empty while future options are considered.