Assembly Member John Marek

Under the plan, the Groves School would be closed and sold to Yale College, and pupils moved to the St Davids and Bryn Offa sites.

Mr Lucas and Mr Marek are to voice concerns about the scheme, amid fears that the education of children will be disrupted.

If the plans get the go ahead, the new schools would be much bigger than the existing sites.

Ms Wilkinson has said that, if major building work is needed, the best options will be considered for the pupils affected.

Wrexham MP Ian Lucas has received calls from parents: "The parents who contacted me are very worried about their childrens' education being disrupted.

"The present proposals include transferring children from the sites of Bryn Offa and St Davids to the Groves site for a limited period.

"That is worrying for parents who have their children approaching GCSE examinations."

Parental concern

Julie Emmanuel, 38, who has an 11-year-old son at Groves High School, said: "I am worried about my son's situation leading up to his GCSE exams. They have assured me it will all be over by then.

"He came here to be with his friends and now he will be going off to another area."

Parent David Lewis: 'No consultation'

David Lewis, from Wrexham, who has a 16-year-old daughter at Groves High School, said: "It will have an unsettling affect on the children, it is something they could do without.

"Nobody ever approaches us. The changes will go ahead regardless of our opinions."

The intake of Bryn Offa and St David's would be increased to 1,200 pupils but would mean disruption for youngsters during building work.

Teaching staff from the school would be invited to re-apply for positions at the revamped schools, although no redundancies have been forecast at this stage.

Wrexham County Borough Council predict that by 2005 there will be 900 surplus places at St Davids, Bryn Offa and the Groves schools.

The scheme seen as a way of addressing the increasing number of students and improving their educational opportunities.

Major investment

The Bryn Offa site would have enhanced science and technical options - and the site at St Davids will offer better language and arts options.

Bryn Offa has around 900 pupils

Access to both schools would be by open enrolment and parents would be free to send children to the school of their choice.

The sale of the Groves to Yale would involve a major capital investment - although exact figures are not yet known.

The council has now embarked on an extensive consultation process with parents, teachers and the unions.

A decision on whether or not to proceed with the scheme is expected to be made in the next few weeks.