A BOROUGH'S new education supremo today vowed to deal with the "mishandled" issues which have upset parents and vowed to do his best for local children.

Coun Dave Hollings has taken over from Mahfooz Hussain as Blackburn with Darwen council's executive member for education -- with responsibility for an £80million a year budget.

Two secondary schools have been put into special measures by Ofsted inspectors and there has also been a public outcry over changes to school transport funding in the last two years.

And Coun Hollings, ward councillor for Sunnyhurst, Darwen, has admitted he has his work cut out to improve public confidence.

The 42-year-old former chairman of the policy and review committee has his sights firmly set on improving pupils' aspirations and attainment as well as driving forward changes in Early Years services.

"There was a feeling that there has been a lack of clear direction for the past two years and certain issues were mishandled, causing public upset, " said the father of three.

"Education has always been the priority but how that message has been communicated needs improving. Education is the council's biggest portfolio in terms of spending and it is essential we get it right.

"I will be looking to give the political steer and direction to education and ultimately the buck stops with me on difficult decisions.

"It's a worry that we might not have been as effective as we could have been in anticipating problems and we will be looking at this area from now on."

Education has seen a tumultuous couple of years after Darwen's Moorland High School and Blackburn's Queen's Park High School were put into special measures by Ofsted. Many parents were also angered by changes to how free school bus passes would be decided, a policy which was eventually altered by council officers.

Coun Hussain lost his position after senior Labour figures expressed concern over the department's performance -- a move which was blamed in some quarters for the defection of six councillors from the party.

He dismissed claims that any issues were mishandled and said the policy on bus passes was a joint decision with regeneration, cabinet and the Labour group in full.

He added: "The education team has been very successful over the last couple of years, despite a couple of problems with special measures. It is complete rubbish that things have been mishandled."

Coun Hollings was first elected in 1996 and has since worked as vice-chairman of housing, overseeing the transfer of housing stock to Twin Valley homes, and is a school governor at Avondale and Ashleigh primary schools in Darwen.