County education chiefs have signed off on a multi-million-pound extension of five secondary schools in west Kent to meet a growing demand for places.

The expansion plan comes against a backdrop of a rising population across the county, creating more demand for school places.

The five schools in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge include three grammar schools and the plans will address a shortfall of around 120 places next year:

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• Bennett Memorial Diocesan School – £6.5m

• The Skinners' School – £3.0m

• St Gregory's Catholic School – £6.6m

• The Judd School – £1.5m

• Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys – £7.7m

Even with the enlargement of the schools, all of which are heavily over-subscribed, the county council says it will still face significant challenges making sure there are enough places for pupils.

A report setting out the plans says the area will need the equivalent of a further six forms of entry by 2021.

The current shortfall does not account for pressures from new housing developments expected.

According to an assessment by Tunbridge Wells council, the predicted population growth in the area will mean about 650 new houses are likely to be needed every year up until 2033 - double the authority’s target of 300.

In the case of all but one of the schools - The Skinners School - the expansion will provide 60 additional Year Seven places for each on a temporary basis in 2018-19 which will then become permanent.

Skinners will admit 10 more children, meaning it will take in 160 in Year Seven.

Kent is under increasing pressure for school places, caused chiefly by population growth and the rising birth rate, as well as inward migration.

The latest four-year Education Commissioning Plan says Kent will need the equivalent of 70 new primary classes along with 84 additional secondary classes over the period - the latter representing the equivalent of 12 new secondary schools.

However, it says it will be short of £149m between now and 2022 to pay for expansions of many other schools facing a similar pressure.

The number of secondary children is forecast to rise by 12,000 from 71,110 to 91,520 this year while 6,000 more primary aged children will need to be accommodated.

The county council says it faces a particular challenge as the government has a policy of creating more free schools to meet shortages of places.

In a number of cases, that has not happened or the plans have fallen through.