TWO high-performing Blackburn secondary schools will provide professional training and development to teachers and school leaders in Lancashire as part of a new national scheme.

Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School and Sixth Form College (TIGHS) and Tauheedul Islam Boys’ High School (TIBHS) have been designated Teaching School Hubs by the Department for Education (DfE).

The new hubs will help teachers at all stages of their careers with best practice in a bid to improve the retention and recruitment of teachers and to boost pupils’ achievement.    

TIGHS will offer development and training to schools in Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Ribble Valley and Rossendale.

TIBHS will provide training to schools in Blackpool, Lancaster, Wyre and Preston.

The schools are operated by Star Academies, a Blackburn-based multi academy trust.

Eden Boys’ School, Bolton, which is also run by Star Academies, will join TIGHS and TIBHS as a new hub for schools in Bolton, Bury and Rochdale.

In total, the three Star Academies’ schools will offer support to more than 800 schools in the North West.

Training and development provision at the hubs will be led by Star Academies’ professional development arm, Star Institute.

Hamid Patel, chief executive of Star Academies, said: “In these extraordinary times, we must do everything in our power to create opportunities and improve outcomes for children and young people.

“This new programme will enable the purposeful collaboration, sharing of expertise and professional growth of teachers and leaders serving different communities.

“We look forward to working and learning with our partners to build on the positive foundations that were developed nationally through Teaching Schools.”

Linda Thompson, executive director of Star Institute, said: “Building on our active engagement with both local and national programmes, we are excited by the immense possibilities this opens up for the sector..”

TIGHS principal Hafez Lukman Ahmed said: “As a teaching school, we have been able to play a role in the local community in Blackburn and beyond.

“We strive to achieve the very best for our young people and we are looking forward to working with an even wider community through this new role as a Teaching School Hub.”