A �12m plan to reorganise secondary school education in Wrexham, thrown into jeopardy after a college pulled out of funding part of the scheme, is back on track.

The local authority have now vouched to sell off land and property to raise the extra �5.7m needed after Yale College ruled the scheme too expensive.

Affected schools

Bryn Offa St David's Groves High School

The council had planned to form a partnership with the sixth form college to revamp education in the town.

Two 'super' schools would be created by merging three existing sites and Yale College would buy one complex to run vocational courses.

However, college bosses thwarted the original funding plans after deciding they could not afford to buy Groves High School which will be left surplus to requirements.

Calculations carried out by Yale have indicated their costs are likely to be higher than anticipated and they cannot commit to the scheme.

It is hoped that the Minister will give the matter her urgent attention and respond within the next few weeks

Terry Garner, Wrexham council

Wrexham council have now agreed to find the extra money by selling council property including land, buildings and industrial units.

They have earmarked what property is up for sale but have not made the findings public.

The authority have already pledged �6m towards the cost.

Terry Garner, director of education and leisure services said the council needs approval for the revised funding plan.

"I am writing to the Education Minister today on behalf of the council," he said.

"I will give her the necessary assurances concerning the safeguarding of educational achievement, pastoral care and financial and building issues.

Bryn Offa would become a 'super' school

"It is hoped that the minister will give the matter her urgent attention and respond within the next few weeks."

If the plan goes ahead the Groves High School will shutdown and St David's and Bryn Offa will be modernised.

A final decision on the scheme will be made by the Welsh Assembly following a full consultation process with parents and pupils.

The vacated Groves site will be used until 2005 to ensure the massive modernisation and refurbishment works on the existing St David's and Bryn Offa sites, can be carried out without disrupting pupils' education.

Councillors are still hopeful that Yale College will have found the necessary funds to buy the site in three years time.

The scheme has been dogged by criticism from many parents of pupils who attend the affected schools.

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