THREE East Lancashire super schools are set to receive a £2million cash injection.

Shuttleworth College in Padiham, Sir John Thursby Community College, Burnley, and Unity College, Burnley, will be given the Government funding in a bid to raise standards further and give students a better chance in life.

The cash, which will be pumped into the schools over the next two years, comes after they became part of a single educational trust in July.

The funding will go towards achieving the trust’s aims.

It will build on work at the schools and will pay for extra help such as work to improve attendance, strengthening staffing in subjects where recruitment of teachers is difficult, and staff training.

The three headteachers – Sally Cryer at Unity College, Martin Burgess at Shuttleworth and Elaine Dawson at Sir John Thursby – have welcomed the news.

Sally Cryer said: “We have high aspirations for all our students and are committed to improving the life chances of the young people in Burnley. This additional funding is fantastic news and will enable us to build on our rapidly improving GCSE results.”

Elaine Dawson said: “The funding will support new and innovative ways to support the school further, raise attainment, and importantly, the trust will support partnership working across Burnley.”

Martin Burgess added: “Shuttleworth has striven to raise the standards achieved by its students since the day it opened.

“This funding gives us the chance to explore ever more imaginative, individualised and flexible ways of helping that process.”

As a trust the schools work in partnership with Blessed Trinity RC College, Thomas Whitham Sixth Form, Burnley College, the University of Central Lancashire, Burnley Borough Council, NHS East Lancashire Teaching Primary Care Trust, Lancashire County Council, United Utilities and Aircelle, a world leader in aviation engineering.

Burnley’s other secondary school, Hameldon Community College, is not part of the trust.

The trust involves the three schools who were placed in National Challenge.

Lancashire County Councillor Susie Charles, cabinet member for children and schools, added: “This investment is excellent news indeed.”