Carillion, Leadbitter, Laing O’Rourke and Morgan Sindall are among the main winners on the major project packages.

But several local Welsh firms will also get a chance to secure smaller work packages after fierce criticism that the North Wales regional schools framework was a carve up between big name English contractors.

The huge school building plan gives contractors some hope of filling work shortfalls created by savage cuts to the BSF programme in England.

A dozen local authorities in the densely populated south east plan to put £400m worth of building and refurbishment work through the Sewscap framework over four years.

The first big school projects in the pipeline include a £26m new Gateway to the Valleys school in Bridgend, a £27m new St Telios school in Cardiff, the £15m redevelopment of Swansea’s Morriston Comprehensive and the Vale of Glamorgan’s plan for a £57m community complex in Penarth.

Wales’ 21st century schools programe came under fire earlier this year when six major contractors picked up the £250m first regional deal in North Wales.

Local builders complained bitterly to ministers in Whitehall about being shut-out of the programme, arguing the move threatened the existence of the Welsh contracting industry.

In the South East region councils have divided the framework into five lots, allowing local firms to edge in on £1.5-£3m projects.