THE heads of children's services on Bradford Council have been grilled over a report into how the authority is improving education standards in the district.

Last month an Ofsted report into the council claimed that efforts to improve schools had been too slow, although they said recent school improvement plans were a cause for optimism and showed a "step change".

And last night the council's Children's Services Scrutiny Committee met and held the first public discussion by councillors on the report. The meeting was attended by executive responsible for education Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe and strategic director for children's services Michael Jameson.

While members of the cross party committee acknowledged the optimism for the future in suggested by the report, some questioned whether this good work will be maintained.

Councillor Mike Pollard (Cons, Baildon) said: "If we were a school, then after this report Ofsted would, giving us a sporting chance, issue a requirement to improve. Some of the report has a touch of the lowest level (inadequate) about it."

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland (Lib Dem, Idle and Thackley) claimed she had heard the council had made a "step change" in education several times before in her role as a councillor, adding: "I suspect that in five years' time we'll be in the same position. The level of effort it is taking to improve is almost impossible to sustain."

When Cllr Sunderland asked Mr Jameson what areas other councils performed better than Bradford when it came to education, he said: "I would say leadership, the quality of teaching, and children starting school at a stage where they are ready to learn. They are the key priorities for us. Obviously other local authorities find it easier to recruit and retain quality teachers. We have to make Bradford a more attractive place to come to. The negative publicity doesn't help."

Chairman of the Committee Councillor Malcolm Sykes (Cons, Thornton and Allerton) said: "I have been looking for a silver bullet that will solve education problems in Bradford for 15 years, and I'm still to find it. When I read this report and read about the optimism over the different approach the council is taking, I hope and pray that this is it. Ofsted have recognised the change for the better."