THE extraordinary scenes at Pontllanfraith Comprehensive School yesterday demonstrated that, if nothing else, modern day pupils and parents are not prepared to accept unpopular change without a fight.

It would appear that Caerphilly Council and the school governors are making cuts in teacher numbers for budgetary reasons, if the dissembling statement issued from the council's public relations department is anything to go by.

According to unconfirmed reports from pupils and parents this amounted to eight teachers, some of whom were closely involved in GCSE courses and therefore working at a vital stage with children who will be taking exams this year.

This apparently enraged pupils and parents alike and a wide-scale demonstration was held with pupils refusing to attend classes and taking their protest on to the streets.

Sadly, from the obfuscating statement, we cannot definitively confirm for our readers whether what the pupils were claiming is true or not.

What is clear is that this school, which has just got itself back into good health educationally, having been taken off special measures recently, is now back in the woods with a great deal of anger and resentment over its budgetary decisions.

It would be better for all concerned if the council could be more transparent and less suspicious of the news media who are, after all, simply trying to convey an accurate picture to their audience.