LEIGH schools will receive £1 million extra funding to continue the excellent work of Leigh Education Action Zone.

London education bosses are so pleased with the work of Leigh EAZ they have promised to continue working with local schools indefinitely.

This means that the extra funding made available to the children of Leigh will continue when the EAZ winds down in December 2003.

Civil servants use Leigh EAZ as an example of good practice, saying it has the best track record in raising standards in schools and has developed such a good rapport with teachers and headteachers, this will form the foundation for a Village of Schools structure beyond 2003.

The Zone will be known as an Excellence Cluster, reflecting some of the excellent practice in the 26 schools.

Project director, Gareth Williams, who takes up a full-time role as Wigan Education Department assistant director in January said: "This is really good news for the children and young people of Leigh. We are particularly proud that Leigh was the first EAZ to be recognised and to receive this accolade. The fact that the Zone has done so well is down to the hard work put in by our teachers and headteachers."

Next year Leigh EAZ will continue its work with schools, and next summer bosses plan to host a Festival of Learning to highlight the excellent work of Leigh's young students.