Bradford could have twice as many 'failing' schools as previously thought, it was revealed today.

Ten per cent of the district's 208 school are in special measures or deemed to have "serious weaknesses" by Government watchdog Ofsted - a higher proportion than anywhere else in the country.

But the picture is even bleaker, according to Education Bradford's own figures, which show that a further 24 schools are failing or close to failing, but have yet to be inspected by Ofsted teams.

Failing schools are those deemed to be offering an unsatisfactory education to pupils. About 9,000 of the district's children are learning in such schools.

Two weeks ago the Telegraph & Argus reported how Education Bradford had approached the Government for extra help to tackle problems in the district's schools, which, it admitted were worse than it had anticipated, when it took on a £360 million ten-year contract to run the district's schools in July 2001.

News that schools on the critical list could be double the number officially acknowledged has now prompted Schools Minister David Miliband to write of his concern in a letter to the district's MPs.

The letter, a copy of which has been leaked to the T&A, says: "There are currently 24 schools in special measures or serious weaknesses and Education Bradford estimate that nearly the same number would be vulnerable, if inspected by Ofsted. It is very important these schools improve as quickly as possible."

The letter also details the Government funding that has been spent on education in Bradford.

Mr Miliband puts the total costs of the schools reorganisation, when middle schools were abolished, at £245 million - the previously published figure was £186 million.

Gerry Sutcliffe, MP for Bradford South, said the Bradford MPs were due to meet Mr Miliband on Wednesday to discuss the situation.

"I'm concerned things have got to this level despite the amount of money that's gone in," he said.

"We need a more united approach to what's going on because of the failure of the existing system to be able to cope. I'm not attacking heads and teachers who are doing as much as they can - it's the bureaucrats who don't seem to have got it right."

Mark Pattison, managing director of Education Bradford, said internal monitoring was done of all schools, and around half were deemed to be doing "really well."

He said: "We have a rigorous process of identifying schools needing additional support. There are currently 44 schools that need some additional support. This does not mean they would, necessarily, be in special measures or serious weaknesses if inspected by Ofsted."

Mr Pattison added that the number of schools in special measures "is nearing its peak".

"We would expect to see the figure coming down during 2004. It should be noted that there are 105 schools in the Bradford district which are doing really well," he said.

Councillor David Ward, executive member for education, said he received regular updates on progress at each struggling school.

"Nearly all of them are more or less under control, and some are making very good progress," he said.

Ian Murch, of the Bradford branch of the National Union of Teachers, said the core problems seemed to be at primary schools.

"Secondary schools in Bradford appear to be making good progress and the people in them are happy with the relationships, but there is a lack of anything at the centre that's good at dealing with primary schools," he said.

The number of schools in special measures or with serious weaknesses fluctuates as some schools recover and others suffer problems.

There are currently 22 officially failing or close to failing but in all, 25 have been in this state since Education Bradford took control of the service.