Schools across the district were today poised on the edge of a new era after councillors selected a major outside partner to take over the day-to-day running of education services.

The executive committee yesterday unanimously approved Serco-QAA as its preferred partner for Britain's biggest education contract.

Under the contract Serco-QAA will receive about £210 million over the next seven years, provided achievements are lifted in schools, many of which hover at the bottom of the education league tables.

The organisation will take over support services including information technology which are currently supplied by the local education authority.

If, as expected, the executive committee's decision is ratified by councillors on Tuesday, a team from the company will next week begin working alongside the council to prepare the ground for the formal handover of services and the transfer of staff at the end of July.

Details of the contract will be agreed over the next few weeks before the Department for Education and Employment confirms the decision.

The company's principal business is the provision of management services to the Government.

Last year it acquired Quality Assurance Associates, a company at the forefront of the new education agenda providing services across Britain to central and local governments.

But the Council will still appoint a highly paid assistant chief executive whose remit will be based on education, as well as a director of education because the local education authority will be retained.

Most of the 800 staff will be transferred to the new company, but some will remain in key positions connected with the management of the Bovis project working on the massive schools reorganisation converting from three- to two-tier education.

Other functions will include the education budget, and early years and child care.

Serco-QAA's performance will be monitored by the full Council and regular reports will go to the executive committee and education scrutiny committee, which also has school and community representatives. Both committees are open to the Press and public.

The decision to bring in an outside partner was taken after an Ofsted inspection of the local education authority which found serious inefficiencies and concluded it was failing Bradford's school children.

But from the start it has been heavily criticised by staff and unions who say it is a costly experiment, which could be a disaster for Bradford's pupils.

Council leader Councillor Margaret Eaton, pictured with Bradford Council chief executive Ian Stewart and Coun Jeanette Sunderland, said: "This is a major milestone in the future of education in Bradford. The development of a strategic partnership represents a completely new approve to providing education services.

"Head teachers, councillors, the DfEE and independent consultants and advisors put all the bidders through a detailed and extremely rigorous evaluation process because everyone recognises the importance of this change."

She said the company's task would be to ensure that schools received the best possible services and support in order to improve children's achievements quickly.

But Councillor Ralph Berry, Labour education spokesman, warned that it should not just be a "change of letterhead and paint above the door".

He said: "If that happened, it would be the most expensive recruitment exercise ever to have happened."

He said he was also concerned that terms under conditions of staff should be protected and they should be kept fully in the picture.

Executive member for education councillor David Ward said: "We are looking for a step change in educational achievements in the district.

"The target we have set for Bradford - to see pupils reaching at least the national standard for educational attainments by 2007 - is a challenging one, but we are convinced we now have the framework in place and the commitment we need to reach our goals.

Kevin Beeston, Serco-QAA's chief executive, said: "This partnership with Bradford Council, to develop and improve the quality of education services delivered to the community represents a significant milestone for Serco.

"Our solutions will be aimed at improving the quality of education services delivered to learners and further enhance the current achievements of educators.

"This announcement strengthens our position to provide workable solutions to local education authorities in the country."

EduAction, the other company on the Council's final shortlist of two bidders, has agreed to stand in reserve in case of problems.

The company's project director Paul Carter said it had found the evaluation process thorough and fair and wished the winners success.

He added: "We are pleased however that we have been retained as the reserve bidder in the event that the Council is unable to reach agreement with Serco."

Full background in our education section

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