PROPOSALS to close a Valleys comprehensive school because of falling pupil numbers were revealed last night.

But councillors and school governors said they will fight Caerphilly council's plans for Oakdale Comprehensive and have vowed to keep the school open.

And the head teacher says closing the school would be "totally wrong".

Caerphilly council's cabinet is due to consider a range of proposals about the future of secondary education at a special meeting on Tuesday.

At present there are five 11-16 secondary schools - at Blackwood, Pontllanfraith, Newbridge, Oakdale and Risca - and one 11-18 school, Cwmcarn High.

One option is closing Oakdale Comprehensive.

Penmaen councillor Allan Pritchard, also a governor at Oakdale Comprehensive, said: "This has come out of the blue. This won't go away without a fight. The school will not close. People at the school have busted a gut the last three years.

"We have turned the school around. The school is really on the up.

"This is the start of a consultation period. It is not a decision.

"They will have more than a fight on their hands. This is a battle we are going to win."

The council says falling pupil numbers and changes to the curriculum have forced them to look at the future of education and make difficult decisions.

It says the proposals will remove surplus school places, making savings to be reinvested into schools.

The council says without intervention the proportion of unfilled places is likely to be "unacceptably high".

In 2004 Oakdale was at 78 per cent capacity, with a surplus of 22 per cent.

By 2014 they estimate this surplus will rise to 35 per cent.

Head teacher Ian Kilcoyne said there are currently 183 surplus places at Oakdale, with 680 pupils on roll compared to a capacity of 863.

He said the school has had more than £600,000 spent on it over the last two to three years

"I think the closure is totally wrong. I think this is a thriving school that offers a great service to the community, and as far as I'm concerned this is not a failing school."

The options being considered next week are:

* maintaining the status quo

* maintaining five enlarged 11 to 16 schools

* maintaining five enlarged secondary schools, rationalise the catchment areas, and normalising relationships with Cwmcarn High

This third option is the council's 'preferred option' with Oakdale Comprehensive to close.

Council leader Harry Andrews said: "Our schools are facing serious issues which need to be addressed.

"Difficult decisions will have to be made and there is no easy solution, but we have a duty to ensure our children enjoy the highest levels of education and we believe these proposals will help achieve this."