HEADTEACHERS today gave backing to their borough council after it was awarded Beacon status for education for the second time.

Blackburn with Darwen Council was given the Government award for transforming the school workforce - how the role between school staff and the Local Education Authority (LEA) has developed over the last five years.

It is the second time the borough council has won Beacon status in education. In 2000 it was praised for school improvement and turning around failing schools.

The award has been criticised as "total irrelevance" by teaching unions and rejected by Tory councillors as unfair praise. Last week opposition education councillors called for the resignation of education executive member Mahfooz Hussain amid criticism that too little had been done about two failing schools.

However, senior teaching staff today rejected the stinging criticism of the latest award, which recognises the LEA's work improving staff morale, putting in place a structured approach to school improvement and more professional development opportunities.

Mike Hatch, head of Crosshill Specialist Technology College in Blackburn, said his school had gone through a rapid period of change but had had excellent support from the LEA.

"It has been a partnership all the way, with LEA staff learning alongside the school workforce to achieve our common goal of raising standards and improving opportunities for children and young people in the borough," he said.

Among the successes recognised by the award are the setting up of professional learning networks so schools can work together and share good practice, the work done on implementing the new National Agreement on reducing teachers' workload and strengthening the role of support workers in schools.

Headteacher Kay Cant, of St Michael with St John Primary School in Swallow Drive, Blackburn, said: "Thanks to the support we have received from the LEA and the commitment of our staff, we've not been afraid to try something new and different and it has paid off.

"We are one of the only schools in the borough to have two nursery nurse team leaders who work in partnership to develop family learning and enhance the role of support staff.

"As a school we negotiate targets collectively with all staff so everyone feels responsible for achieving them. The Beacon award is a great achievement for us, for the LEA and for other schools," she said.

Sandra Burnyeat, Pupil Support Manager at Intack Primary School, said the borough's award was richly deserved.

"The LEA has worked hard alongside non-teaching staff to support us, challenge us and open up new opportunities for professional development. That has led to us contributing to higher achievement of pupils," she said.

Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford said the council now had an "important role" in helping to spread this good practice to other local authorities.