Parents are outraged that problems at their children's schools will be discussed behind closed doors.

Schools in Bradford which are experiencing problems will soon be able to take their concerns to a new sub-committee which will have private meetings - but parents want them held in public.

The Interim Education Policy Partnership, chaired by Sir Anthony Tippet, agreed to set up the sub-committee to avoid the glare of publicity for individual schools. But parents think people have a right to know if there are concerns about schools and that the press should not be prevented from reporting meetings about these.

One mother, who did not want to be named because her 11-year-old daughter was bullied at Immanuel College, said if parents did not contact the T&A when they were concerned about problems, schools could keep them to themselves.

She said: "I think a lot of parents would be a lot happier if they could go to these meetings. They can't handle the bad publicity so they are keeping it in private."

She agreed that the way to solve problems was to discuss them openly. "In fact they should hold meetings in public with the kids and the parents."

Roy Waterhouse, has two children at Buttershaw High School, which has been classed as a "school causing concern" - a 16-year-old daughter about to leave this year and a 13-year-old son.

He said: "I think there are a lot of things going on that nobody wants to mention. But it is just being swept under the carpet. If nobody is made aware of problems in schools how is it going to be sorted out?

"The media should be able to report on anything that's wrong as long as it is unbiased. The T&A should have the right to be able to print stories about schools in Bradford."

The decision was taken by the IEPP - with members including councillors, head teachers, unions and teachers - after considering reports at its meeting on schools designated as causing concern. The report said a designation was normally because of low pupil performance, weak teaching or as a result of pupils' behaviour and attendance.

Bradford Council has put extra funding aside to deal with the problems. Officers said at least nine schools were having difficulties as a result of the reorganisation from three to two tier schooling.

Councillor Ralph Berry (Lab, Wibsey) said he believed it was wrong to name and identify schools in public and they should be able to have frank discussions in a special sub-committee.

He said: "We want a forum where a school can come forward away from the public and they are confident that they can talk to us."