A multi-million pound initiative to tackle Bradford's desperate education problems was revealed today.

Council leaders are determined that the city's abysmal performance in league tables year after year will be turned round hand in hand with the huge schools shake up which starts in September.

And the main targets will be boys and ethnic minorities.

Education Secretary David Blunkett has given his blessing for the district's biggest ever school blitz in a three year programme.

Ten primary and five secondary schools will be picked out to pilot the new schemes which also includes linking into the Internet.

Key areas targeted for improving standards include numeracy, literacy, information technology and science. Truancy is also high on the agenda - in February Eccleshill Upper School had the second worst truancy record in the country.

Chairman of the education committee Councillor Susanne Rooney said: "Our vision is to get education at the heart of the district's regeneration, and to do that schools, families, the Council and our partners in the public and private sector must work together to promote a confident and competent learning community."

The boys are being targeted because their achievements are markedly lower than girls, especially in English. But the difference narrows between GCSEs and A-levels.

Today the district's first Education Development Plan was given a big thumbs up by parents and head teachers.

But a union warned that staff already facing the turmoil of moving from three to two-tier schooling faced extra strain.

High quality teaching is also at the forefront in the blueprint, including personal development and leadership projects for all staff.

Education Authorities across the country have to prepare mandatory Education Development plans for the first time under an agreed Government funding regime.

Mr Blunkett has made it clear to that Bradford LEA must also go ahead - despite the radical change from two to tier schooling beginning this year.

And he has written a personal letter to Bradford North MP Terry Rooney applauding its content.

Today Mark Newman official of the National Association of head teachers and head of Denholme First School welcomed the plan and said its aims were laudible.

He said:"Bradford has put a lot of effort into consultation. The aims can only be described as positive."

But Ian Davey, branch secretary of the National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers said: "I hope it looks as nice as it does on paper. It will put extra work and strain on staff when they are already going through the review. It is right in the middle of moving schools ."

Ian Murch, secretary of the Bradford National Union of Teachers branch said: "We are very concerned about the effects of this and the reorganisation. "

Bruce Berry, headmaster of Belle Vue Boys School welcomed the plan as a positive step forward. But he added: "Now we have to work together to bring it into practice."

Rob Goodwin, deputy headmaster of Eccleshill Upper School said: "This document means that people have sat down and considered the issues carefully, which can only be a good thing."

The education spokesman for the Council's Tory group, Coun Dale Smith, said: "The documentation of this plan isso massive we may be in danger of losing sight of the main issues which are funding, quality of teaching, and parental support".

And Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, leader of the Liberal Democratic group, said: "The Council is spending far too much time preparing strategies and plans with little or no success".

The plans include the selection of ten primary and five secondary schools to pilot new ideas to help boys do better in schools.

Dominic Sheeran, who lives in Eccleshill and has three children at schools in Bradford, said: "It's a good idea that the LEA are addressing the problems and are setting targets.

"I will be very interested to read the document and hopefully it addresses some of the many issues in education in Bradford at the minute."

Tim Barnett, a governor at Wellington First School, said: "The fact that they've got a plan is really good. It's quite right and proper that the LEA has a clear and well set out plan as to how it intends to move forward over the next few years.

"I think the priorities are right but it's also important to address the ordinary everyday pupils as well as those with special needs."

They involve a mentoring programme for 12 to 14 year old boys to develop their interest in schools..

Parents and members of the community will be heavily involved in the flagship schemes and will constantly feed in ideas.

Education committee chairman Councillor Susanne Rooney said:"The targets are challenging and ambitious but by working together we will raise educational standards, and the new two tier system - once the new pattern of schools has been established will also help."

The plan has been distributed to schools across the district and summaries are being prepared for parents.

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