Education in Bradford is about to enter a new era. The Council, under instructions from the Government following last year's damning Ofsted report, is set to embark on a partnership with a private company brought in to run the district's 103 schools and nurseries.

Hopefully this will mean the beginning of a new, improved deal for the 88,000 pupils as the district becomes by far the largest in the country to follow this radical path.

Given the parlous state of education in Bradford, this change is to be welcomed, although there have to be reservations. For example, proper controls need to be in place to ensure that excessive profits are not made and that maximum resources are put into the front line: employing more teachers, improving classroom facilities, buying more textbooks and computers, and wherever possible reducing class sizes.

Given that there are already 20 smaller but similar partnerships in place around the country, Bradford has models to follow. It is important that safeguards are installed in the deal and that procedures are rigorously followed.

That said, now that the talking is over about who the private partner will be, all those concerned - the members of the partnership, teachers, governors, parents and politicians - need to start working closely together to transform the standard of education throughout Bradford.

Too many of the district's youngsters have struggled on for far too long in a system which has not been able to help them to realise their potential. They deserve better - and hopefully from now on will get it.