Councillors expected to take back city education services

SENIOR Bradford councillors are expected today to press ahead with plans to retake control of education services from next year.

They are expected to endorse plans to approach the Government to remove an order which made the council bring in outside help 10 years ago.

The authority was hit by a damning Ofsted inspection which resulted in education services being handed over to private firm Serco, operating as Education Bradford.

Serco’s 360m contract ends on July 29 next year and councillors want the authority to take services back in-house.

Bradford’s executive committee meets today to consider the next step. A full council meeting will consider the proposals on September 14, before they go to Education Secretary Michael Gove for final approval.

A council spokesman said the proposals had gone through a wide and lengthy consultation process, which has included headteachers, school governors, community representatives as well as a survey of parents.

Council leader Ian Greenwood said: “A huge amount of work has happened since the council took the unanimous view last December that its preferred option would be to transfer strategic responsibility for the delivery of education services back to the council.

“The council would like to thank all the headteachers and community representatives who have helped us in developing these proposals.”

The portfolio holder for children’s services and education, Ralph Berry, said: “The proposals that have been developed will allow us to help raise educational attainment, while making sure there is a robust plan in place to deliver ‘business as usual’ for children on September 5 2011.

“We have discussed the proposals with the Department for Education, both from the point of view of the future direction of education in Bradford and also the practical delivery of the plans. They are satisfied with progress so far and with the proposed programme of delivery.

“This has been a collaborative endeavour and we are grateful to headteachers for the support they have provided during this process. It is important that we provide flexible services that schools will need in the challenging period ahead.”