Schools Standards Minister Stephen Timms today urged pupils in Bradford to achieve great things in 2002.

In a message to Telegraph & Argus readers he pledged redoubled efforts from the Government to ensure every child gets the best education.

And he claimed the extra Government funding directed at schools this year added up to an extra £269 per pupil.

"In our first term, we focused on primary schools. As a result, 12 per cent more children are reading and writing well and nine per cent more are doing Maths well," he said.

"Now, we need similar improvements in secondary schools, so that more young people can go to university or into apprenticeships. While half our pupils gain five good GCSEs, more must do so in the future," he said, referring to the national figures for GCSE results. In Bradford, 34 per cent of pupils meet this standard.

"Every school should be a disciplined school playing to its strengths - and every pupil should have their individual talents and capabilities met," the minister said." He continued: "This year, Bradford secondary schools have new lessons for 11 to 14-year-olds in English and Maths. They set a faster pace and ensure that every pupil takes part. From September, the new approach extends to science and computer lessons - as well as other curriculum subjects.

"Parents will have more choice as more schools specialise in subjects like technology, languages or science. Bradford already has nine specialist schools - we want nearly half to specialise nationally by 2005."

Specialist schools offer the full curriculum, with extra lessons and facilities in a particular subject. They are supposed to work closely with other schools to help lift standards for all.

"Every young person has particular talents and goals," Mr Timms said. "But sometimes traditional academic lessons don't give them the motivation they need. So, from September, there will be new work-related GCSEs in subjects like engineering and catering."

He added: "Later this year, there will be 'value-added' information so that you can see how well local schools are doing given how well their pupils were doing at 11."