Bradford's inner city primary schools are to be included in a flagship scheme to improve educational standards.

The Government's Excellence in Cities initiative is expected to be more than doubled in scope today, as a result of the £1 billion Budget boost for education.

The programme already promises secondary schools help in dealing with disaffected pupils, new opportunities for gifted children and funding for "learning mentors", to take the "social work" out of teaching.

It currently operates in six urban areas, including Leeds-Bradford.

Today, Education Secretary David Blunkett told Parliament it is to be extended to a further seven, and in existing areas also to primary schools.

Liz Metcalfe, head teacher at Undercliffe Primary School in Bradford, gave the announcement a cautious welcome.

"We need the money and if it supports the work we are already doing that's good. I would like it to free us up to do the job.

"But if it's another initiative that means reams and reams of paperwork and more report-writing, that will be overload."

Extending the scheme to primary schools in the existing areas will cost £25 million, Mr Blunkett said.

Elsewhere in today's House of Commons announcement, Mr Blunkett announced £60 million in the coming financial year to support Government policies to turn round failing schools.

The cash will go to support the "fresh start" initiative, under which 10 schools have so far been closed and re-opened with new heads and staff.

Critics pointed to problems with resources when three heads at "fresh start" schools resigned within days just over a week ago.

The extra money will also go towards start-up costs of the first so-called city academies, new schools to be established by the Government with private and voluntary sector partners to replace those deemed too problematic even for a "fresh start".

Mr Blunkett also announced a doubling of the New Deal for Schools programme of capital investment planned for the coming year.

Crumbling schools will benefit from a cash boost of £500 million, up from a planned £250 million.

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