TWO business-backed academies will replace three schools in a move that promises to put a Kent town at the forefront of the national campaign to boost workforce skills.

The Government has given a green light to the next stage of planning the rebuild of Cornwallis, Oldborough Manor and Senacre Schools - all branded New Line Learning - in Maidstone.

Cornwallis will become an academy in new buildings on its present site, with an expanded sixth form and room for around 1,800 pupils.

Oldborough Manor and Senacre will link up to form the second academy on a single site for around 1,000 students.

There is still uncertainty over the location of this academy. Governors want to close Senacre and move students to the 45-acre Oldborough Manor campus.

The existing Senacre site would be sold off for housing, with some of the land probably retained for sports use.

However, there have been arguments in favour of building the academy on the Senacre site. The entire project depends on council planning permission.

With the decision to approve academy status, the Department for Education and Skills will fund a feasibility study into the cost, design, transport and other issues involved in what could eventually become a £60million scheme.

Academies are independent state schools financed and built in partnership between sponsors and Government. They focus on vocational training to equip young people for workplace, and the New Line Learning venture is backed by computer giant Hewlett-Packard and construction firm Corillion.

Dr Chris Gerry, chief executive of New Line Learning, welcomed the Government’s decision.

He said: "It’s great for the local area. Having two academies in one town rather than cities is pretty much unheard of.

"We’re not there yet, but we’ve made a lot of progress towards achieving our dream."