CHULMLEIGH is to have one of five new schools to be built in Devon following confirmation of multi-million pound investment.

The assurance has been given after Devon County Council was formally accepted into the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

Under BSF, new secondary schools are planned at Ilfracombe, Tiverton, Dartmouth and Chulmleigh together with Marland special school in Torrington.

The announcement means £80 million of Government cash - with Devon contributing up to £7 million on top – is to be spent on the schools.

Devon was officially welcomed into the BSF programme by the organisation operating it, Partnerships for Schools.

Work will start on planning the new schools almost immediately, with involvement from the local community, school staff, governors and pupils. Building work is due to begin as early as spring 2012.

The new schools will support the transformation of teaching and learning in Devon, embracing new technologies and improved ways of working.

The secondary schools are committed to maximising community use of their new facilities in Ilfracombe, Dartmouth, Chulmleigh and Tiverton.

Devon's cabinet member for schools and skills, Christine Channon, said: "This will provide 21st century learning environments for thousands of Devon students.

"But it will also provide a major fillip for the economy and the creation of jobs in parts of Devon that badly need that boost."

Partnerships for Schools' chief executive, Tim Byles, said: "The remit milestone marks the start of Devon's BSF journey which seeks to improve the life chances of, not only local school pupils, but communities as a whole.

"With nearly 150 schools and more than 130,000 pupils benefiting from BSF investment across the country, I look forward to similar work taking place in Devon to offer pupils the best start in life."