Middle schools in Bradford are to be scrapped under radical proposals unveiled today by district education chiefs.

The authority's school review team, responsible for the biggest shake-up in education in 30 years, today published its recommendations to ditch the three-tier system introduced in Bradford in 1969.

It would be replaced by a two-tier system of primary and secondary schools, matching more than 90 per cent of the country's education authorities.

The proposals, almost certain to be ratified by Bradford Council a week today, will lead to widespread closures of between 50 to 70 schools.

The move follows a massive ballot of parents, in which almost two-thirds, out of a total of 20,000, were in favour of going two-tier.

Bradford's education chairman Jim Flood said: "It is encouraging that at this critical stage both the evidence and public opinion are clearly pointing in the same direction.

"I hope the education committee and the council next week will agree that this gives us the backing, indeed the duty, to proceed with the necessary programme of change."

The review team has recommended the two-tier option largely because Bradford has fallen out-of-step with the National Curriculum, the Government and the rest of the country.

It was felt that attempts to improve standards in Bradford's classrooms were hampered severely by breaks in the curriculum, particularly at two key stages of children's education.

As a result, Bradford has found it difficult to move away from the bottom end of school performance league tables.

Between 50-70 school closures are expected under the proposals. Other schools will be upgraded and expanded and plans to build a number of new schools will also be included.

Bradford currently has 246 first, middle and upper schools, excluding the Catholic and independent schools and the City Technology College.

These will be replaced by about 155 primaries (for four to 11-year-olds), and about 30 secondaries (for 11 to 16/18-year-olds).

Details of how individual schools will be affected will be released in a fortnight.

Deputy education chairman Suzanne Rooney, said: "The need for middle schools 30 years ago was obvious but education has moved on due to Government pressure and funding.

"As a progressive LEA we wish to move with the time. As an ex-teacher I can empathise deeply with school staff particularly in middle schools."

More than 11,000 parents voted in favour of two-tier during the second stage of consultation earlier this year, out of which 2,200 wanted to see the three-tier system retained just in Ilkley.

Less than 7,000 parents backed the option to retain the present three-tier system but slim it down.

Pending council approval and the backing of the Secretary of State for Education, the two-tier system will be phased in from September 1999 over a two/three year period.

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