PRIME Minister Tony Blair is set to visit Blackburn tomorrow to launch the second stage of a revolutionary government scheme to raise standards in schools.

He will be accompanied by Education Secretary David Blunkett and Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw in a visit to Our Lady and St John Roman Catholic High School, one of 22 schools in the borough which is involved in the government's pioneering education action zones programme.

Blackburn has been chosen as the venue for the announcement because Blackburn with Darwen Council's zone is being held up as a role model for the rest of the country, despite the authority only taking responsibility for education in April 1998.

Mr Blair and Mr Blunkett will meet children and staff who will demonstrate the new 'whiteboard' technology which allows interactive teaching using blackboard sized computer screens.

Our Lady and St John's is one of 22 schools in the programme which will receive £1 million - including £250,000 from the private sector - in a bid to raise standards.

The emphasis of the programme is to encourage improvements in under achieving schools, although high achieving schools such as Our Lady and St John's are also included so that good practice can be shared.

Local business join forces with council's in the setting up of action zones and in Blackburn British Aerospace, United Utilities, Whitbread, Lloyds, TSB, Garfield Weston, Promethean and Blackburn Rovers have become involved. As one of the first 12 zones in the country, to be created, Blackburn with Darwen Council receives £750,000 a year from the Department for Education and Employment and is expected to raise £250,000 annually from the private sector.

Councillor Bill Taylor, chairman of the council's education and training committee said: "This is undoubtedly a great moment in the young history of our new unitary council.

"We are not complacent though. There is much still to be done and it will be many years before the work can be truly judged.

"Needless to say I am extremely excited at the prospect of such a great day."

Mike Humphreys, head teacher of Our Lady and St John's, added: "I am very pleased that our school has been chosen to host this nationally significant event.

"I also feel it is appropriate that high achieving schools like ours are included in education action zones so that good practice can be shared."

Our Lady and St John's was placed 60th in the country's top 100 secondary schools in a recent "Observer" newspaper table.

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