Top consultants today moved into Bradford to tackle the crisis in the district's education service.

Internationally-renowned firm Pricewater-houseCoopers has been recruited to design a model for Bradford Council to work with external partners driving up standards in the beleaguered service.

The consultants were appointed from a shortlist by the council yesterday.

The company will make a clear recommendation on the way forward within three weeks, following consultation with schools, staff and members of the community. They will consider whether the education services should be out-sourced or a partnership arrangement introduced with another organisation.

Leeds Council also appointed the company to prepare a report on its local education authority after a bad Ofsted report.

PricewaterhouseCoopers will then prepare a specification for the tendering of education services by the end of July.

The contract would go out to tender in autumn and the new arrangements are expected to be in place by April.

The move follows a damning Ofsted report which showed serious failings in the local education authority.

It revealed there had been serious under-funding for years and the council had not spent the amount the Government felt should be set aside for pupils. Councillors and officers were criticised for selfishly fighting their own corners when the budget was agreed.

School Standards Minister Estelle Morris has made it clear she expects the service to be moved to an outside organisation and the Government will step in if the council does not come up with the goods.

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, lead member for the project, said: "The council fully accepts the findings of the Ofsted report and is moving to address their concerns as quickly as possible."

Councillor Sunderland, who is leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said they wanted a solution tailored specifically to the district's needs. She said all three political parties had been involved in the selection of the consultants and were determined to work together to ensure that schools got the support they needed to drive up educational standards and to improve the lives of young people.

Once the consultant's interim report is completed, it will be considered by a joint steering group, which will include officials from the Department for Education and Employment, council representatives and head teachers.

Deputy leader of the Tory group, Councillor Richard Wightman, said: "We hope the people of Bradford will now be confident that the education of their children is in safer hands."

Labour group leader, Councillor Ian Greenwood, said they were impressed by the consultant's presentation. "It was clear PricewaterhouseCooper has an excellent team and hold a view that is thoughtful, expert and constructive."

The team of ten experts is expected to be based in the council's education offices in Flockton House.

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