A NEW drive to help schools become the focus of community renewal is at the forefront of new thinking being pioneered in Sunderland.

The finishing touches have been added to a £6m bid for funding from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund over three years, to be considered early next year.

Approved by Sunderland City Council, the bid could see a massive investment in eight primary and secondary schools in the Pennywell and Red House areas.

The initiative aims not only to provide additional funding to help pupils achieve new educational standards set down by the Government, but also to involve the community in providing help by creating support roles within particular schools.

Education director Dr Barbara Corniskey said: "What we intend to do is to create the employment and educational environment where we can nurture our own local people to fill roles such as ICT technicians and learning mentors."

Councillor Pat Smith said: "We want to create the kind of support network to help improve education using the skills and experience of local people, which this new funding could help develop."