THE Excellence in Cities scheme in Blackburn with Darwen.

BLACKBURN with Darwen has been chosen to be part of phase three of the Government's Excellence in Cities programme.

It has been designed to ensure high standards for every child in targeted urban areas, providing additional funding focusing on secondary schools. This has come at a timely moment for the Local Education Authority. It is strongly committed to the principles of Excellence in Cities and aims to integrate the programmes into its overall objectives.

The LEA's recent Ofsted inspection report remarked: "It has a proven track record . . . existing high quality as an organisation and the good relationship with LEA schools places it in a strong position to meet the challenges of the programme."

The Excellence in Cities in Blackburn with Darwen Partnership is aiming to become:

High achieving -- It will encourage all schools to have high expectations of every individual pupil and seek to meet their needs and talents. Recognising excellence and disseminating good practice will be at the heart of the partnership.

All inclusive -- Blackburn with Darwen will seek to systematically remove the barriers to pupils' learning.

The resources are divided into seven main strands:

Gifted and talented programmes

Learning mentors

Learning support units

Beacon schools

Specialist schools

City Learning Centres

Small Education Action Zones, taking in St Cuthbert's, St Aidan's, St Andrew's, St Bartholomew's, Meadowhead Juniors, Meadowhead Infants, Avondale, Lower Darwen.