EDUCATION chiefs are looking for local companies to dig deep into their profits and help schools in a deprived area of Bolton.

Sponsors are needed to support a bid by 15 Bolton schools to set up an Education Action Zone in Breightmet and Tonge.

The schools need local companies to pledge around £250,000 before they can claim about triple that amount of extra cash from the government.

But education chiefs say Bolton will not allow private companies who put money in to take over schools in the action zones. "One of the conditions of our bid is that head teachers and governors will continue to manage their schools," said Ian Glaister, assistant director of education. "Our partners will have a say in what direction we take and which of the many projects we are considering we will eventually fund.

"But by increasing the skills of children in school, they will get a better skilled workforce with a different attitude."

Bolton is a among 60 local authorities who have bid to set up an Education Action Zone.

If they are picked, they will get an extra £1m of private and public money to try out radical approaches to education involving 4,500 pupils.

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