About us
SHARES Lancashire is a dynamic education partnership of 30 primary and secondary schools which was established as a not-for-profit limited company by a cluster of primary schools in Skelmersdale and Upholland. It was created to strengthen schools through purposeful collaboration and aims to enhance educational outcomes and community wellbeing by responding flexibly and intelligently to the changing demands of education and society.
At its heart, SHARES Lancashire is driven by schools working together—sharing expertise, resources and effective practice to improve teaching, learning and leadership across the partnership. Both member and non-member schools benefit from a growing portfolio of high-quality, needs-led services designed to support strategic priorities, improve operational efficiency and meet the diverse needs of pupils and communities. This includes bespoke continuing professional development, curriculum and specialist support, and services that help schools navigate an increasingly complex and constrained educational landscape.
A key strand of SHARES Lancashire’s work is the development of the future workforce. Through its initial teacher training provision, delivered via the SHARES North West SCITT partnership, SHARES plays a central role in recruiting, training and supporting high-quality new teachers for the region. School-led and practice-focused, this provision ensures that trainees are well prepared to meet the realities of modern classrooms while supporting workforce sustainability across partner schools.
Complementing this, SHARES Lancashire operates a not-for-profit recruitment service for schools, providing ethical, sector-led recruitment solutions that prioritise school needs, value for money and long-term workforce stability. This approach enables schools to attract and retain high-quality staff while reducing reliance on commercial agencies.
SHARES delivers a comprehensive annual programme of professional learning to ensure staff remain at the forefront of educational practice. Alongside this, the partnership provides a wide range of enrichment opportunities for pupils, including school swimming, physical education, sporting and non-sporting competitions, and the SHARES Pupil Parliament, which promotes leadership, pupil voice and democratic engagement.
Beyond the school day, SHARES Lancashire plays a significant strategic role in community-focused provision. This includes leading on the Holiday Activities and Food programme in West Lancashire, ensuring accessible, high-quality holiday provision and nutritious meals for children who are eligible for free school meals or require additional support. Other SHARES led holiday activity programmes and family learning opportunities are also delivered throughout the year, supporting inclusion, aspiration and wellbeing. This includes our Lancashire Public Health funded PASTA project, which provides parents and children with after school activities, nutritional education and cookery skills.
SHARES Lancashire also works in partnership with national organisations to enhance curriculum quality and opportunity. This includes a valued partnership with the Ogden Trust, supporting the development of high-quality science teaching and learning, particularly within primary education, and strengthening subject expertise across the partnership.
Working closely with local authorities, third-sector organisations and community partners, SHARES Lancashire is a proactive, adaptive and collaborative force within the education system—placing partnerships, workforce development and children’s needs at the centre of everything it does.
Contact: SHARES Lancashire Ltd c/o Hillside Community Primary School, Egerton, Tanhouse, Skelmersdale, West Lancashire, WN8 6DE
Tel: 01695 572982
Email: info@shareslancashire.co.uk