EDUCATION bosses are putting together a multi-million package aimed at rescuing Blackburn and Darwen's failing schools.

Town hall bosses are hoping £13 million worth of investment will help solve the crisis in the borough's schools and colleges.

Blackburn with Darwen Council is expected to be one of five Local Education Authorities in the country with the highest proportion of special measures schools when the council wins unitary status.

As revealed in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, OFSTED have labelled seven schools in the two towns as failing and in need of special measures.

A number of other schools are borderline cases and there are widespread problems with numeracy and literacy.

The Government has also recognised education is inferior in East Lancashire and there are serious levels of under-achievement.

The number of pupils in Blackburn and Darwen which are officially recognised as having special needs is twice the national average. Performance at GCSE level is also worrying. Just 28.75 per cent of pupils in the borough pass five GCSEs at grade C or above compared to 41.1 per cent in Lancashire and 43.3 per cent nationally.

A bid for £6 million worth of European funding has been put together by council bosses.

And the it is hoped if Brussels agrees to the grant the public sector will invest a further £6.5 million.

The package has won the backing from organisations across the borough including Blackburn Partnership, Blackburn Groundwork Trust and the Chamber of Commerce.

Other groups include Blackburn College, ELTEC and the Council for Voluntary Service.

Measures in the action plan include:

Tackling the problems at the schools deemed as failing.

Improving basic skills and literacy.

The establishment of an education action zone.

Develop a learning culture through a series of community projects.

Look at new ways to improve links between local industry and schools.

A report on the bid reads: "The Government Office for the North West recognises the problem of poor educational attainment in East Lancashire. This bid is part of a wider regeneration strategy to focus on the serious levels of educational underachievement current in Blackburn and Darwen."

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