The scale of the hidden problem facing those seeking to improve educational standards in Bradford has become shockingly apparent with new figures revealed today. It is bad enough that ten per cent of the district's schools have been placed in special measures or been deemed to have "serious weaknesses" by the Government watchdog Ofsted - a higher proportion than anywhere else in the country.

Now, though, Education Bradford estimates that a further 24 schools which have yet to be rated by Ofsted inspectors are failing or close to failing. That means that 9,000 pupils in total are being poorly served by the local education system.

Small wonder Schools Minister David Milliband is so concerned that he has written to the district's MPs stressing the need for urgent improvements. The Government has put £245 million into education reorganisation in Bradford (£59 million more than was previously acknowledged) and is entitled to expect a better return on its money in terms of results than this revelation of dismal failure by so many schools.

The relatively good news from Education Bradford managing director Mark Pattison is that he believes the number of schools in special measures is "nearing its peak". He also points out that there are 105 schools in the district which are doing "really well".

There are surely lessons to be learned from these winning schools which can be applied to the problems revealed by internal monitoring systems at those identified as being on the verge of failing. They need to be snatched back from the brink before they too are officially denounced by Ofsted inspectors.