SCHOOLS REPORT: Blackburn with Darwen LEA currently provides education for 25,927 pupils in primary, secondary, special and nursery schools throughout the Borough.

We aim to:

Secure high quality early years and childcare provision in a variety of settings

Support the development of access to Lifelong Learning opportunities

Provide new technology for community learning

Raise standards in schools

Support pupils and parents on admissions, exclusions, special educational needs, grants and awards.

Above all we seek to increase achievement and the potential of all people in the borough and to extend their opportunities to learn for life. We seek to: "Aim high and include all".

WHAT WE OFFER: Support for schools in the challenge of raising achievements and sharing good practice as well as out-of -schools activities, music support, health education and a whole range of support and provision to learners and schools

Support to schools, pupils and parents on admissions, education welfare and special education needs. The service focuses on access to education provision -- "Including All"

Lifelong Learning and Early Years Service -- increasing the participation of adult learners to 'learn for life' by providing what they want to learn where they want to learn, as well as extending early years provision for help to provide the foundation for 'learning for life'.

Education Action Zone -- more than 20 schools in the LEA have been part of the EAZ and have benefited from a whole range of extra resources and support to help develop teaching and learning in the Zone.

The borough council has led a range of educational initiatives and provisions, which has included resources and support to:

Reduce class sizes in schools, upgrade learning environments with over £20million of investment, which has included a new junior school.

In the current year we are investing a further £22million to be spent on two City Learning Centres attached to Witton Park High School and Pleckgate High School, new sports and arts provision at three primary schools, and extra classrooms-- as well as repairing and renewing school buildings.

Increase the use of computers in learning by investing £3million to expand computer provision and infrastructure in schools.

Ensure no Blackburn with Darwen schools are in any category classified by Ofsted as needing special measures or special support.

Offer 11,000 adults last year new opportunities to learn and update their skills.

Ensure an extensive range of pre-school provision in partnership with the private, voluntary and community providers.

Develop Youth Service projects for young people.

WHAT WE ARE PROUD OF: The borough council was recognised as a Beacon Council for Education and Lifelong Learning. The LEA received an outstanding report on its inspection by Ofsted and the Audit Commission. It was an excellent report, one of the best received by any LEA in the country.

However we are most proud of the improvements made by our schools in the past four years, and the increased attainment of pupils and learners.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH A £100,000 WINDFALL? Use it to match with other funding, to increase the use of computer interactive whiteboards.