PROPOSALS to close Oakdale Comprehensive do not make sense either educationally or financially, according to school governors.

They say that in the last two years a large financial deficit was turned into a surplus.

And they stress the school's GCSE results were also vastly improved this year.

A consultation document, produced by Caerphilly council, shows just two years ago the school had a £113,942 deficit.

But the governors anticipate that by the end of this financial year, the school will have a surplus of £44,277.

The document also shows that in 2004 just 32 per cent of Oakdale pupils achieved five or more A to C grades at GCSE.

This year, though, more than 43 per cent of youngsters achieved that - an improvement of 11 per cent in one year.

And they hope that next year the figure will be 56 per cent. Brian Hancock, the former Islwyn AM, said: "The financial status of the school has been turned around by the head, the staff and the governors." Penmaen councillor Allan Pritchard, who is also a school governor, said that two years ago the school was facing a projected deficit of £400,000. "This has not been turned around without a lot of pain," he said.

"We had to downsize staff, losing 11 members of long-term experienced teachers who were at the top of the scale.

"We haven't replaced all of them but we have taken on young and dynamic teachers, including four from Bedwellty Comprehensive (which closed in July).

"We have been running the school as a finely-tuned business." Eirlys Jones, chairwoman of the governors, said the employment of a full-time bursar had helped the school solve its financial problems.

She said this year staff had provided extra lessons for pupils doing their GCSEs, during the examination period, which had helped improve results.

A spokesman for Caerphilly council, which is proposing to close Oakdale in 2007 due to falling pupil numbers in the area, said: "The council will soon be undertaking a thorough consultation process to ensure everyone has a say about these proposed changes. We will take on board the view of all concerned."