Schools minister Ed Balls has opened three flagship schools in the borough.

He described the new Aylesford School - Sports College, The Malling School and Holmesdale Technology College as "schooling in the 21st century".

The schools cost a £50 million pounds from private investors and took three years to build.

Mr Balls said: "We’ve had a really wonderful and inspiring morning, it’s very unusual to have the chance to go and open three new schools all in one day.

"In so many different ways these schools are using the investment to do what I think 21st century schools should be all about.

"If we can do around the country with investment what we’ve seen this morning in these three schools, we could really transform education in Britain."

For the full story and pictures see this Friday's Kent Messenger