'Government must act to help schools'

Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe, who is also chairman of governors at Tong School, said private provider Education Bradford was losing the confidence of MPs and head teachers.

The call comes after bosses of Education Bradford admitted they had underestimated the problems being faced by Bradford's schools.

The company was brought in two years ago after the Bradford Council's own service was exposed as a failure by Ofsted.

Education Bradford, run by private firm Serco, is being paid around £36 million per year to pull low-performing Bradford away from the foot of the school league tables. It is trying to secure an extra £1 million to rescue 21 Bradford schools labelled by Ofsted as failing or close to failing.

Exam results are now rising - but not fast enough, the MP said.

Mr Sutcliffe said he would speak to Education Secretary Charles Clarke to ask for more direct intervention in Bradford.

"There should be some sort of inquiry, and assistance given to Education Bradford now from the Government in terms of looking at what's gone on," he said. "Teachers, heads and governors are working hard but they are being let down by the bureaucracy.

"The Government is concerned it is not getting a return on the money it has invested through the schools reorganisation."

Mr Sutcliffe said Education Bradford had been treated sympathetically and allowed to re-negotiate very tough performance targets, but closer Government scrutiny should now be given to see if anything could be done better.

"Not only is the Government not getting the return, but schools are being let down," he said.

Mark Pattison, Education Bradford's managing director, said standards were now rising faster than the national average for most age groups and truancy levels were coming down.

He added: "Serco is running the services in Bradford for less than it was costing the Council to do so. Given the results so far, I believe this represents excellent value for money."