Local school leaders will help decide how best to spend a multi-million-pound education improvement fund.
The £5m Brilliant Futures Fund, which is an investment from Team Barrow and was first announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer when he visited the town in March, will be used to strengthen learning and increase educational attainment.
This is a priority for Team Barrow, which is a partnership between central Government, Westmorland and Furness Council and BAE Systems, with figures showing educational attainment for pupils in Barrow across all key stages are below the national average, as are absence rates.
Working with school leaders to ensure the funds are spent where they are most needed will be Professor Janet Lord, deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor for the faculty of Health and Education at Manchester Metropolitan University and a nationally established expert in education.
Professor Lord said: “I'm really thrilled to be able to work with colleagues across Barrow and more widely to improve the educational experiences and outcomes for young people.
“Nothing matters more than putting a sound foundation in place for children, a foundation that will allow them to go on and achieve great things and to be able to contribute to society.”
Team Barrow’s two core outcomes are to help deliver submarines and diversify and strengthen the town’s economy.
Its education and skills workstream is sponsored by Professor Julie Mennell, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cumbria, which has recently opened a new campus in Barrow.
Professor Mennell said: “Giving our young people the best possible start in life is vital, but the statistics tell us that children in Barrow are currently at a disadvantage.
“This money will help address that, and I’m delighted that we’ve got such a great person, in Janet Lord, to lead the work. Working with our school leaders, teachers and other partners we can deliver improved outcomes and long-term impact.”
Councillor Janet Battye, Cabinet member for Children’s Services, Education, and Skills at Westmorland and Furness Council, said: “I am delighted to have local school leaders front and centre in deciding how this money can have the biggest impact.
“Increasing educational attainment is vital. For Barrow to thrive our young people need to be able to realise their potential.”