Shepherd takes over from Kier Moss, which was signed up for the first phase and suffered a canopy collapse at the Abraham Darby Academy site in Telford last year.

Under the deal, Shepherd will now get first refusal for the design and build contracts on five news schools and three remodelled schools in phase two of the programme.

The first school in this phase is the complete rebuild of the Ercall Wood Technology College in Wellington.

Outline planning consent for the project was granted in June this year.

Shepherd will build the 900 place secondary school and later demolish the existing school buildings.

The replacement buildings will provide additional sporting facilities and encourage community use and the site has been designed to relieve traffic congestion on Golf Links Lane and other local roads.

A detailed planning application for the proposed design will be submitted to Telford & Wrekin Council in the near future and comments on the proposals will be invited.

If the application is approved, it is anticipated that work will start on site in January.

Peter Bates, programme director at Shepherd Construction, said: “This is great news for Shepherd and we look forward to working in partnership with Telford & Wrekin Council to deliver high quality educational and community facilities for the benefit of local people in Telford and Wrekin.

“We look forward to supporting the local community as much as possible and will be working closely with residents to minimise any disruption as construction progresses.”