Under the Governments Building Schools for the Future programme, Carillion will build five new academies across the region.

The five new academies are - New Line Learning Academy and Cornwallis Academy in Maidstone, Axton Chase Academy in Dartford, Marsh Academy in Romney Marsh and Spires Academy in Canterbury.

Carillion chief executive, John McDonough, said: "We are delighted to have been selected as the preferred bidder for this project, our fourth major project under the Government's BSF programme.

Education is a huge growth area for Carillion and we look forward to delivering Kent County Council's vision of transforming education and providing excellent new facilities for students, staff and local communities through these new academies."

It is thought that construction work will begin in November 2008. All five academies are due to be completed by March 2011.