Bradford's brainy young mathematicians get their sums right thanks to a groundbreaking partnership between schools and industry which has been expanded.

Shipley-based Filtronic plc is sponsoring sixth formers at nine schools to do tough maths courses and the result has seen a booming number going on to university.

The project was set up by Filtronic's go-ahead chairman, Professor David Rhodes, who said: "There is no spin-off for the firm because we cannot guarantee that any of them will work for us but it is something I feel strongly about and wanted to do. Maths courses are not seen as sexy but I felt it was vital to encourage pupils to do it."

The scheme has cost Filtronic a total of £90,000 in cash and a further £90,000 in time given by staff from the firm. Since the project started three years ago, when it was reported in the Telegraph & Argus, all the 35 pupils involved at the first six schools have gone to university. Now a total of 80 pupils - including some from three new schools - are involved and the hope is that they will do the same.

The schools involved are Bradford Boys' Grammar, Salts Grammar, Bingley Grammar, Ilkley Grammar, Greenhead Grammar, Oakbank and Holy Family schools in Keighley, Woodhouse Grove at Apperley Bridge and St Mary's in Menston.

Headteachers are delighted.

"It stands out as a beacon of the best way to encourage pupils to become engineers," said John Patterson, headteacher of Bingley Grammar School. "Filtronic have identified a need for quality maths graduates and they have targeted a substantial amount of money to help able students with immense success."

Sixth form students who take double maths - A-levels in both pure and applied maths - go on work experience placements at Filtronic during their summer holidays at £100 a week.

They also receive a bursary of £500 to pay for books, computer equipment and travel as well as 'sweeteners' like an electronic personal organiser. Filtronic's input has enabled Bingley to re-establish a further maths course, which most schools cannot run because student numbers are so few.

Trina Hagerty, headteacher of Salt Grammar School, said: "This is a unique scheme. It is a really good incentive for students.''

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