The North West Shropshire Education Action Zone was an educational project funded by the Government to address the needs of an area of rural isolation with pockets of deprivation. The EAZ was originally a three-year project that extended to five years from April 2000-March 2005. 21 schools and community partners collaborated on the project. A team of Co-ordinators led by a Project Director supported improvement projects, managed by a representative Forum. The EAZ transformed in April 2005 into a new phase as an Excellence Cluster.

The aims were to offset rural isolation, raise attainment and expectations and to find new ways of working. These aims are related to nine objectives that are the programme strands:

• A much wider use of ICT
• Increased out of hours and enrichment opportunities
• Improved support for family learning
• Intensive support to improve standards of literacy
• Similar support for numeracy
• Much more scope for gifted and talented pupils to excel
• Overcoming barriers to social inclusion
• Developing improved partnerships and ways of working by ensuring that teaching consistently matches the challenges of the zone.
• Managing new partnerships and developing management and leadership skills

The EAZ "Archive" website gives practical support for development of the projects which took place during its execution.