A row has blown up over a quality review carried out at Bradford College.

The college and the University of Bradford, which awards its degrees, are believed to have lodged objections over the way a review of its teacher education department was conducted in December.

Claims have been made that the dispute arose after Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) decided to award the college the lowest score possible for a subject review.

But the college says it has not yet been informed of any grades - and questions where the Times Education Higher Education Supplement, which made the claims, got its information from.

In a joint statement issued by the college, the university and the QAA, it said: "Bradford College, the University of Bradford and the QAA are in discussions regarding the subject review.

"All parties, therefore, feel it would be inappropriate and unhelpful to discuss the matter at this time while normal processes are being pursued."

A college spokesman added: "Obviously there is a dispute somewhere along the line because the inspection is under review, but as far as I know we did not know what grades we were going to get.

"I would point out that this department and all of our higher education provision has had generally good QAA and Ofsted results in the past."

Dr Gordon Lakin, director of academic programmes for the college, said the outcome of the process review could take some time.

"It's still a matter which is under review and the parties have agreed to keep things confidential until the report is ultimately published," he said.

"The time-scale for that happening could be longer rather than shorter."

A poor quality review could have serious consequences, as the Higher Education Funding Council for England has said it would consider withdrawing funding from low-performing departments.

The situation could also prove damaging to the college and university's merger plans, which are the subject of a feasibility study.