A PUPIL whose school is threatened with closure today makes an impassioned plea for it to remain open.

Eleven-year-old Lauren Poole and her mother, Shirley-Ann, 41, wrote open letters to Caerphilly council, asking it to shelve plans for the closure of Oakdale Comprehensive.

Lauren started at the school just a few days before news broke that it might be closing.

Her mother said: "It was the worst possible time to find out.

"They were all nervous about starting a new school and then this happens."

Mrs Poole had looked at all the local schools while choosing one for Lauren, but had chosen Oakdale above the rest.

She said: "There was nowhere else as good. When I looked round I could see how much work was being put into it.

"I talked to pupils and staff and they were all committed. It had a strong sense of purpose and a great atmosphere."

Lauren is worried she will be split up from her new friends and forced to go to a different school.

In her letter Lauren wrote: "I don't want anyone to shut my school. I have only been attending this school for two weeks and I am enjoying it so much.

"I do not think my school should shut down because all the staff are friendly and are providing me with a good education."

For Mrs Poole the situation is even more difficult because the family live in Cwmgelli, Blackwood.

"There were closer schools she could have gone to," she says. "But Oakdale seemed the best choice. Now my daughter is worried and I feel let down.

"We will not let this school close without a fight. It is thriving and has been turned around since Ian Kilcoyne took over as head."

Oakdale Comprehensive School governor and local councillor Allan Pritchard said he thought Lauren was very brave for speaking out to save her school.

He said: "We have to take notice of the views of this young girl and her peers. If we don't listen to them then we will isolate a generation.

"Their views count."

Councillor Pritchard said he had received countless letters of support for the campaign to save the school.

He said: "This shows the strength of feeling. People will not let this school close without a fight."

Caerphilly council is considering proposals to close the secondary school in 2007 because of falling pupil numbers. A consultation period will continue until the October half-term.