Enfield, Hounslow, North Tyneside, Rotherham, Southampton, Staffordshire, Walsall and Worcestershire have got the go-ahead to join the programme.

It means the local authorities can now start developing projects to rebuild and refurbish the five secondary schools in their areas most in need of investment - with the remaining local secondaries being rebuilt or renewed later in the programme.

The overall estimated value of the projects is £625m.

The fast-tracked cluster will join over 72 local authorities already joining BSF and around 1,000 secondary schools already being revamped across England, including around 180 academy projects.