Work on the next phase of the massive £370 million overhaul of schools in Sandwell is set to start in July, council bosses have confirmed.

The firm chosen to carry out the work under the Building Schools for the Future programme in the borough will be announced on Wednesday.

Sandwell’s education chief Councillor Ian Jones said that he expects work on sites at Smethwick Learning Campus and Rowley Learning Campus to begin in the summer.

Two shortlisted applications are being assessed, and a recommendation for the winning bid is set to go before Sandwell Council’s cabinet for a decision on Wednesday.

Each application has been put together by partnerships made up of various firms including construction companies and IT experts.

The bids are expected to guarantee a certain number of jobs will be created in the area.

It will involve rebuilding or revamping every borough secondary school in Sandwell.

Council Jones added: “There will be cranes in the skyline across the whole of Sandwell for the next few years. This is the biggest building contract that the council has ever entered into.”