Council resumes control of education

BRADFORD Council will retake control of its education services on Friday after a 10-year contract with a private firm expires.

Education Bradford, set up by Serco, has been responsible for driving up standards in the city’s schools since it was awarded the £360m deal in 2001.

The council lost control of its services after a damning Ofsted inspection a year earlier.

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Targets in the original contract were to bring Bradford schools’ performance up to the national average. However these have been redrawn more than once, allowing Education Bradford to earn more bonus payments.

In its first year, Education Bradford earned less than £10,000 in performance-related bonuses however over the course of the contract it has gone on to earn more than £4.7m after targets were changed.

Council leader Ian Greenwood said that “taking a strong strategic lead in delivering education services would allow the council to raise education attainment, develop skills and deliver regeneration to support growth in the local economy.”