Plaid Cymru have urged the delay of the proposal, which may also see up to 29 primary schools closing, after the National Assembly Government began working on new regulations for a model more suitable for authorities such as Gwynedd.

It is believed that the new model may lend great focus to issues such as sustainability and identity, and may even provide a lifeline for some schools facing closure.

Dyfed Edwards, Gwynedd schools portfolio holder, said: "We have consistently said that we wish to introduce a new system of federalising schools in Gwynedd that will not mean closing individual schools and will allow schools to preserve their identity and ensure their future sustainability.

"Since the federal system is very much central to our plans in Gwynedd to keep open as many schools as possible, we will be recommending to the council that we delay our plans for federalisation until the new regulations come into being."

The new model is also expected to offer more flexibility to integrate schools into a federal system.

Mr Edwards added: "The current regulations for federalisation of schools are quite strict, for example authorities must go through a process of closing a school before it can become part of a federal system.

"The model that is currently being considered by officials at the Assembly is much more flexible and congenial to our circumstances in Gwynedd.

"However, we have recently heard that the National Assembly Government will not be in a position to announce new regulations for the federalisation of schools until September 2009."

Mr Edwards' recommendation to postpone the federalisation element of the consultation process on primary education will be given a hearing in a full council session following the forthcoming local council elections in May.

Members of the protest group, Llais Gwynedd, who opposed the closure of primary schools in the region, have announced they will contest seats in the election, with the aim of preventing school closures.