After two years of lobbying, the borough council has finally secured an £8m deal to improve its "deteriorating" schools.

The cash from the Government will be coupled with £5m from Bromley Council to help improve and develop secondary school facilities in the borough.

Money will specifically be spent on post-16 facilities to accommodate the 80 per cent of youngsters now choosing to stay in education after school.

Portfolio holder for children and young people Councillor Earnest Noad says Bromley is already achieving high standards in its secondary schools but facilities can no longer support expectations.

He said: "In order for us to continue this remarkable level of excellence and innovation among our students and their teachers well into the 21st Century, the bricks and mortar around them must be maintained.

"This is spending to save money long-term by avoiding rebuilds if nothing is done soon."

He added: "We have lobbied central government for years about the difficulties faced by Bromley Council in ensuring sufficient capital to meet the needs of our secondary schools."

The money will be phased in over five years and provisional schools earmarked for a slice of the money include Bullers Wood School for Girls in Chislehurst, which could receive a new sixth form block.

Langley Park School for Girls in Beckenham stands to get a new kitchen and school hall, while Newstead Wood School for Girls in Orpington could get the money for improved sixth form accommodation as part of the proposals.

Hayes School may get additional teaching facilities for its post-16 provision.

Not all of the borough's 17 secondary schools will get money as part of the deal and potential schools have been selected after independent contractors listed the sites most in need of improvements.

Cllr Noad admits if the council can stay on budget with this latest finance package, it stands a better chance of landing extra funding in the future.

He added: "I am excited this new funding opportunity will enable us to secure and enhance the future success of secondary school education across the borough.

"We can't expect children to keep improving their standards if the fabric of their buildings is deteriorating."