A BARROW secondary school is at the "cutting edge" of new educational developments in the UK and Europe.

Furness Academy is continuing its work with university, business and school partners across Europe this academic year - starting with two exciting new projects.

The academy has again been successful in securing two major European education development projects funded by the EU through their Erasmus+ programme.

The two projects, worth more than 600,000 euros, will see the academy students and staff take on exciting challenges around the best practice use of 3D print technologies to supporting teaching and learning and the use of new ICT technologies to foster innovation in learning.

Working with partners from across Europe, staff and students of the academy will get the opportunity to visit some of the organisations in Spain, Slovenia, Italy, and Greece.

Furness Academy will be leading the European partnership working on 3D technologies during the 30-month project and working as a partner to the University of Gloucester on the ICT innovation.

Despite uncertainty around Brexit and the UK's involvement in Europe, Furness Academy bucks this trend as its European links go from strength to strength. These these two additional projects add to the existing ScienceGirls and ELIOT projects which are already running in the academy.

Andy Bush, Furness Academy’s business director, said: “These projects put Furness Academy at the cutting edge of new educational developments, both in the UK and Europe. But most importantly they provide fantastic added value opportunities to our students to develop their learning and broaden their experience by working with European students and travelling across Europe to other schools.

"The academy’s European links extend beyond its project work as later in this month the academy welcomes teaching and management staff from Italian school partners keen to learn about the UK educational system and how the academy operates some of its innovative learning provision. One of these staff will spend six months working in the academy supporting the new European projects with our staff and student teams."