COUNCILLORS have praised progress made by schools in Blackburn and Darwen's Education Action Zone during its third term.

Education Action Zone (EAZ) schools made greater improvements in key stage tests over the past year than Local Education Authority schools, the council's education and training committee was told.

Councillors heard that three EAZ schools in the borough reached the semi-final stage of a "Tomorrow's World Live" national competition.

Holy Trinity CE School in Darwen and Crosshill Special School and Longshaw Junior School in Blackburn produced a 20 minute lesson using the whiteboard, to show its potential as a teaching and learning tool. Crosshill and Holy Trinity went through to the final and presented their lesson at the "Tomorrow's World Live" Exhibition at Earl's Court in London.

An Early Years Resource Centre has also been established, where resources are loaned and exchanged to schools within the EAZ. Parents as educators is another key success in the EAZ. Last term, 130 parents completed the course and a substantial number have enrolled on the course this term.

Blackburn College has supported the scheme, as it can guide parents who are completing the courses to further educational opportunities.

Another part of the EAZ initiative is out of school clubs, summer schools for gifted and talented children, toy libraries, and Technology College status.

A joint Technology College, which will link work between Crosshill Special School and Queen's Park High School, aims to develop a combined approach to studying design and technology with computer links between the two schools.

Councillor Peter Greenwood said: "Congratulations are in order for all the efforts that have been put into projects within Education Action Zones.

"The achievements have been remarkable and I'm sure that we will maintain this success."

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