Two new schools will be created

Students from the three establishments will merge and two 'super' schools will be created.

Under the plan, the Groves High School will shut down, and pupils will merge with St David's and Bryn Offa - both of which will be extensively modernised.

St David's will be known as Rhosnesni High School and Bryn Offa will change to Ysgol Clywedog.

There has been wide opposition to the merger from parents and pupils of the three schools.

However, the move was ratified last year when the Welsh assembly backed Wrexham county council's decision.

Ysgol Bryn Offa will be renamed Ysgol Clywedog

Terence Wales, head teacher at the Groves High School said he has mixed feelings about the school's closure.

"It's a sad day but at the same time it's a day for looking back," he said.

"It's a time of change for the pupils and changing schools for any young person is a big change."

In April 2002, a petition with more than 1,000 signatures was handed in to education officials in protest over the school plans.

Mr Wales said a number of teachers had retired or found new posts but there had been no redundancies from the Groves.

"The staff in the three schools are moving to new posts," he said.

"Some people have retired but none have been made redundant."

When term starts in September pupils from the three schools will be educated at the former Groves High School and the new Ysgol Clywedog whilst work is being carried out on Rhosnesni High School.