A GOOD start but room for improvement. That is the frank first-term assessment from education chiefs, headteachers and union leaders of the start made by the £250million Building Schools For The Future (BSF) programme.

As the spring term gets under way, the Lancashire Telegraph has conducted an investigation into how the first term went.

The only criticisms of the scheme so far were from parents and councillors over problems at Hameldon Community College with bad behaviour.

But education chiefs said they were confident the BSF would eventually win critics around.

In September, the new regime began and the existing 11 high schools in Burnley and Nelson were being replaced with eight state-of-the art ones by 2010.

A new multi-faith community college, Burnley Schools' Sixth Form, also replaced the sixth forms at Habergham school and the Catholic St Theodore's in a bid to raise attainment and promote inclusion.

Although rows over land remain, heads at all the schools, while admitting the transition has not been easy, insisted they were making the progress they hoped for after a first term.

Hameldon Community College, Burnley, replaced Ivy Bank and Habergham schools and has had its share of trouble with police called 19 times in the first five weeks of term.

But defiant headteacher Gill Broom said: "I'm convinced it will be a successful school. I'd give it eight of 10 for its start."

Other schools shared her optimism, with leaders at Pendle Vale College, Nelson; Shuttleworth College, Burnley; Blessed Trinity RC College, Burnley; and Sir John Thursby Community College, Burnley, giving the same first term score. And head at Nelson's Marsden Heights Community College, Mike Tull, gave his school 10 out of 10 as he was so impressed with the way the school, made up of Mansfield and Edge End High Schools, had "gelled".

Also giving itself top marks was Unity College, Burnley, made up of students from Towneley High School.

Critics have claimed the £250m project is being used "as an experiment in integration" for Burnley school-children.

But Coun Alan Whittaker, Lancashire County Council's cabinet member for schools said: "To all the critics I say: What is the alternative?

"When you choose to replace a whole of town's secondary establishments it's challenging for everybody but it's something we are facing willingly as this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to give a boost to Burnley and Pendle.