A Bradford education centre for children who need extra support will close, and the future of another is in the balance as Government funding draws to a close.

Numeracy, literacy and computer skills centres, run at the Bradford Bulls and Keighley Cougars rugby league clubs, are among 158 operating as part of the Department for Education’s Playing For Success project.

The Government contributes £80,000 towards the running of each centre and staff are employed by Bradford Council, through Education Bradford. But the Government’s funding ends in March.

The centres open outside of school hours at sports stadiums, catering mainly for ten to 14-year-olds who are at risk of underachieving, using the stimulus of sport to motivate them.

Bradford Bulls’ Stampede Study Support Centre opened at Odsal Stadium in May 2004. Its future is uncertain.

Peter Hood, chairman of the Bulls, said: “These children come here on placements through their schools and we can see the success it is having. They children who find it difficult to engage in a classroom situation and struggle to attain national numeracy and literacy targets.

“I can understand why the funding has to end, but I’m disappointed and I think it’s inevitable that many of these centres will close.”

Hundreds of children have also received support at the Cougar Pride Centre at the home of the Keighley Cougars since it opened in January 2007.

Gary Fawcett, chairman of the Keighley Cougars, said the club was not pursuing alternative funding and the centre will close.

He said: “We are disappointed the funding is being stopped because we saw a significant number of children from local schools each week. They went through nice learning processes and they all enjoyed it.”

Education Secretary Michael Gove said closing the schemes would save £1.5 million.

Councillor Ralph Berry, Bradford Council’s executive member for education and children’s services, said: “I believe the centres are exceedingly good value for money and I’m concerned by not having them it will create far more expensive problems.”

A spokesman for the Department for Education said the Government was hopeful funding could be secured from the private sector to ensure schemes continued.