GIVE schoolchildren in the North West a fair deal.

That was the message from more than 200 education leaders to the Government at a special conference on funding.

Each of the 21 local education authorities in the North-West, including Blackburn with Darwen and Lancashire, was represented at the conference, which examined the Government's consultative proposals for future funding of mainstream education.

Councillor Brian Wilson, chair of the North-West Regional Association of Education Authorities, said: "It is absolutely vital that we send the message to the Government that the level of education funding available to councils must be increased significantly if we are to succeed in our shared desire to improve standards."

Work starts

BUILDING work has started on the new City Learning Centre planned for Towneley High School in Burnley.

The project, taking shape in the sports hall yard, is expected to be complete in March next year. Meanwhile, the school has forwarded its bid to the Department for Education and Skills for specialist arts college status.

Call for early agreement

TEACHERS' leaders have urged Education Secretary Estelle Morris, pictured, to come to an early agreement on workload

National Union of Teachers' general secretary Doug McAvoy has written to her emphasising that talks have been running for a year and-a-half.

Open evening

HABERGHAM High School in Burnley will hold a sixth-form open evening next Monday.

The event is aimed both at Habergham pupils and youngsters who are currently at other 11-16 schools who would like to enter the sixth-form in September 2003.

Friends meet

THE Friends of Moorhead High School Association will hold a meeting in the school on Thursday at 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.