Headteachers of Bradford's new primary schools have marched into the fray and joined their secondary colleagues in the battles for more cash.

The move means the district's state school headteachers - numbering nearly 200 after the reorganisation - are united in their condemnation of schools' underfunding in Bradford.

John McGowan, headteacher of Holme Middle School and subsequently the new Holme Primary School which will be established on the same site, said enough was enough.

"There is a major issue with under funding in Bradford," said Mr McGowan, a spokesman for the group of more than 150 primary heads.

"Unless we put it to the proper level, improvements in standards will be very slow in coming, if at all. All the time headteachers are having to make choices like higher class sizes or fewer resources. It is a very difficult choice."

Primary and secondary heads are calling for a summit meeting with the new education chief, Councillor Susanne Rooney and the district's MPs.

Both groups' spokesmen emphasise their aim to work with the local education authority to improve funding and drive up standards.

"We need to get around a table as soon as possible," said John Fowler, the head teacher at Rhodesway Upper who is a spokesman for the secondary group.

"We do not want to fight against anybody, in fact we said from the onset that we wanted to work with the Council to find a way forward."

John Patterson, head at Bingley Grammar School, said parents all over the district had supported their campaign to have £18million extra pumped into schools in the next three years.

Coun Rooney said: "I'm meeting and continuing to discuss these issues of funding with the director of education, the leader of the Council, the MPs and the Government.

"I will continue to fight, as I have done successfully in the past, in securing £170 million for the school's reorganisation.

"The only way to raise standards is to build a successful partnership with parents, the community and the staff at each school."

Bradford West Labour MP, Marsha Singh, said he was anxious to meet the headteachers and hear their case.

"I am broadly sympathetic with what the headteachers are saying," he said.

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