EDUCATION experts from Blackburn with Darwen Council is set to step in and rescue a troubled education authority in a ground breaking move.

The Blackburn LEA has had huge successes in recent years following the launch of various schemes including its Education Action Zone.

The EAZ has seen an extra £5million pumped into 22 Blackburn and Darwen schools and the Prime Minister Tony Blair added his personal seal of approval during a flying visit to the borough. Last year the council was awarded beacon status in recognition of its achievements.

In contrast Rochdale Council was criticised in an Ofsted report and has been hit by the early retirement of education director Brian Atkinson.

The situation at Rochdale was so bad the council was facing the threat of having education removed from its control.

A partnership deal, the first of its kind in the country, is being worked out between Rochdale and Blackburn with Darwen to help the floundering education authority.

Private firms could also be brought in to help improve standards in Rochdale over the next year.

Consultants from accountants KPMG were called in to carry out a report on the education authority.

The report found there were a number of fundamental flaws in the way education was provided in the borough which could be linked to underfunding, poor management, bad planning and a lack of scrutiny. The document concluded that the best way forward would be to arrange a partnership with a neighbouring authority with a reputation for improving educational standards.

The move is being heralded as ground breaking and is thought to be the first of its kind in the country.

Behind the scenes negotiations have been taken place following approaches from Rochdale Council and the Department for Education and Employment.

Councillor Bill Taylor, Executive Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, said: "We welcome this opportunity to work in partnership with Rochdale Council and its schools.

"We are confident we will be able to demonstrate that the public sector can continue to work together to bring about improvements."

He added: "At a time when education authorities are under attack, it is important to remind everyone that there are many good ones up and down the country. And as a Beacon Council, we intend to make every effort to help and support another council."

Coun Taylor said details of the deal had not been finalised but BwD council was likely to hire around six more senior education officers to work in Rochdale and BwD.

Councillors and officers from the two councils are meeting tonight to work out how best to work together.

Director of Education and Training Mark Pattison said: "This would be an exciting and stimulating challenge for us. The additional experience and development opportunities this would provide, together with the expansion to our team to undertake the work, would enhance the range and quality of work we can give to our own schools."