Pupils will be educated in all aspects of Christianity

St Joseph's Catholic High School in the town will expand to create a new �8.5m facility.

There are currently no Church In Wales secondary schools in Wrexham.

Following a �6.6m Welsh Assembly grant the school will be re-developed and open as a church-aided, dual-denomination establishment in 2006.

The Wrexham Parochial Educational Foundation will also be contributing up to �1.2 million.

It is the first in Wales but there are good examples of good practice in England The Catholic Bishop of Wrexham, Right Reverend Edwin Regan

St Joseph's was opened in 1959 for 430 Catholic pupils but it accepts a number of students who are not from the Catholic faith every year.

It has taken four years to see the new school, first muted by a Church In Wales representative, to come to fruition.

The Catholic Bishop of Wrexham, Right Reverend Edwin Regan said the school will provide an excellent opportunity for youngsters in the town to receive a religious education.

"It is the first in Wales but there are good examples of good practice in England," he said.

"It is very important that us as Christians should understand and appreciate each other.

"It's a small school and will remain a small school, academically [St Joseph's] seems to gain more and more awards each year.

"I would object very strongly if it got too big," he added.

Reverend Geoffrey Marshall backs the new school plan

The school will beable to cater for 650 pupils and will be made up of 60% of children from the Roman Catholic faith and 40% who are Anglican.

Jane Davidson, Welsh Assembly Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning said the new school "recognises the important role that church schools - Church In Wales and Roman Catholic, have in educating children in Wales".

Building work on the Sontley Road site in Wrexham should start in the spring of 2005.

It will provide a sports hall, changing rooms, six new science laboratories, new art, drama and music rooms and a new dining hall.

"I hope the shared school will reinforce the fact that children of many Christian denominations and other faiths currently share in the Christian journey at St Joseph's," said Canon Geoffrey Marshall, Rector of Wrexham.

"I also hope it will be a sign of a flourishing Christian community in which unity and diversity can be celebrated," he added.