EDUCATION staff are going to 'university' to learn new approaches to teaching.

Now Blackburn with Darwen Council is acknowledging achievements by holding the University of The First Age Celebration Event.

Primary and secondary teachers, school staff and education officers have undertaken the training to experiment with new approaches to teaching and learning.

The aim is to use the skills to develop out-of-school-hours learning activities.

Coun Mahfooz Hussain, executive member for education and lifelong learning, said: "The UFA is an excellent training programme for professional staff which helps them to raise young people's aspirations and achievements.

"I am pleased to see so many teachers, classroom assistants and council staff taking part for the benefit of our young people".

St Mary and St Joseph's RC Primary School in Bennington Street, Blackburn, which is hosting Monday's even , is a 'university' partner school, which has also been awarded Beacon Status.

The 'university' was devised as an innovative and exciting approach to teaching and learning based on the latest research into how we learn. It was set up as an educational charity in 1997.

It works with schools and communities to extend learning beyond the school day by developing teams to offer activities for young people that will stimulate their curiosity and enthusiasm for learning.

Certificates will be presented to them by Peter Morgan, director of education and lifelong learning, for completing or partially completing the two-year Fellowship Training.