The founder of a remote Kashmiri school has spelled out the reasons for its success to a group of Bradford education leaders.

Retired Lieutenant General Rahim Khan, chairman of the Kashmiri Education Foundation (KEF), spoke to a meeting of school and college head- teachers and Bradford Council education staff to help address the needs of the district's Pakistani community.

The visit was arranged by Dr Mohammed Ali, chief executive of the QED community help group and also a trustee of the UK arm of the KEF.

Lt Gen Khan, who served with the Pakistan army, said: "The children at the Pearl Valley Public School in Kashmir and those Pakistani students in Bradford come from the same background, so there should not be any difference in education standards.

"But from what I have learned since being here, they do not seem to be performing satisfactorily.

"That could be because they are taking education for granted or because there are no role models in teaching for them to look up to."

Pearl Valley was set up in August 1996 without Pakistan government funding and in the remote village of Rawalakot.

The aim of its founders was to bring high standards of education to children who had long been neglected by the state and Lt Gen Khan said the students had a great thirst for knowledge.

The country's links with Bradford communities led to funding from the district for the Kashmiri school and many of its overseas volunteer teachers are from Yorkshire.

Dr Ali said: "One thing which comes across is the level of community participation in the school, parents get involved with their child's progress on a regular basis.

"We want to set up exchange visits between pupils and teachers so both can pick up tips on how the other country works.

"It might also help the children in Bradford realise what they can achieve once they see what is happening at Pearl Valley."

Richard Kunicki, head-teacher at Barkerend Primary School in Hendford Drive, who attended the meeting, said there were similarities between the two communities.

He said: "I went along out of curiosity to look at what has been done over there and if there is any relevance for the community I work in,.

"There is obviously a connection with the Pakistani communities which can help with cultural understanding."