Denny High School is one of four which will be rebuilt

It is hoped the replacements for Denny, Falkirk, Grangemouth and St Mungo's High Schools will be open in 2008.

The local authority will now move to finalise the contract with the Stirling-based Gateway Consortium.

The project will be funded using a Non Profit Distributing Organisation (NPDO) which will re-invest any surpluses for the benefit of the wider community.

Falkirk Council said that many suggestions made during a consultation period had been incorporated into the final designs.

All of these new schools will provide staff and pupils with the best possible learning environment with state-of-the-art facilities Councillor Tom Coleman Education convener

Teaching, catering and support staff from the current schools will move to the new premises.

Existing Falkirk Council commercial services employees won the contract to supply cleaning services, securing 65 jobs.

Council leader David Alexander welcomed that development, saying: "This is the first schools contract in Scotland so far that has managed to retain council staff."

The council's education convener, Councillor Tom Coleman, added: "Very good progress is being made with this massive project and we are pleased to see that the tender attracted such strong interest from the commercial sector.