AN INDEPENDENT review has found Bradford Council was right to apply to replace the governing body at Laisterdyke Business and Enterprise College with an Interim Executive Board (IEB) but there are lessons to be learned.

The school's entire governing body was sacked in April last year over concerns about its actions and effectiveness following a critical Ofsted report.

An expert panel headed by Les Walton CBE investigated the introduction of the IEB after a recommendation from the Council's children's services overview & scrutiny committee.

The review has now set out ten recommendations and lessons to be learned but Bradford Council was last night unable to supply the Telegraph & Argus with a copy of the full report containing that information.

In a statement, the Council said it had concluded the former governing body did not have a sufficient focus on school improvement and there had been a breakdown in the relationship between the governing body and the school's leadership team.

It also stated the Council was correct to apply for the IEB and that its introduction was carried out in line with the legal requirements. Some key areas for improvement in the processes both before and after the introduction of the IEB were outlined.

The new interim board consists of Council officers, a solicitor and the chairman of governors at another Bradford school.