High-flying Bingley Grammar School is on the brink of being rated as a failing school, according to a secret dossier obtained by the Telegraph & Argus.

The school, struggling against huge debts, is on a list of 26 schools which are receiving intensive support to solve their problems.

The report by Education Bradford, the private company that runs the district's schools alongside Bradford Council, contains details of the 20 primary and six secondary schools that are "causing concern".

Of these, seven primaries and one secondary - Bingley Grammar - have been placed on red alert' under a traffic-light warning system used by Education Bradford to assess their level of need.

The red rating means the eight schools are all at risk of failing an immediate Ofsted inspection.

Bingley Grammar School, traditionally one of the best-performing schools in the area, is receiving intensive support from school improvement officers and "strategy consultants".

But the dossier reveals that the extent of its debts, which are undergoing an independent audit but are claimed by union officials to be about £750,000, means that it is considering laying off staff.

The report also identifies a range of other key "areas of concern" which need to be addressed by the school.

A review by Education Bradford has found 31 per cent of teaching to be inadequate, 44 per cent satisfactory and 25 per cent good or better.

There are concerns about standards and achievement, particularly in English, mathematics and science at Key Stage Three of Standard Assessment Tests which are tackled by 14-year-olds.

The quality of some middle leaders, communication with parents and carers, a "stretched" senior team and a failure to meet its "statutory obligations for Special Educational Needs" are also highlighted.

Head teacher Chris Taylor declined to comment on the report's findings when approached by the T&A.

However, the document also identifies a raft of measures Mr Taylor, who has been at the school since April last year, has put in place to make improvements.

They include revised financial procedures, a school action plan and a "robust system for evaluating teaching and learning".

And the report also notes that the school's sixth form, rated as being in the top ten per cent in the country, is well-led and managed, and is cost-effective.

Seven primary schools have also been given the red alert' ranking. They are: Atlas, Horton Grange, Parkland, Princeville, Ryecroft Southmere and Bradford St Joseph's Catholic primary.

Areas of concern at Atlas Primary, based in Lincoln Close, Manningham include standards throughout the school, particularly at Key Stage 2, the quality of teaching and staffing issues.

Head teacher Wahid Zaman arrived at Atlas in January this year.

He said: "Atlas Community Primary School has made progress following the implementation of a comprehensive school action plan working closely with Education Bradford.

"Standards at Atlas are improving and we are confident that this year's SATs results will reflect this.

"I have continued the improvement agenda started by my predecessor with the support of all the school's staff."

Horton Grange Primary in Great Horton, which is in special measures, is said to have issues with low standards in reading, writing, mathematics and science at all key stages and staffing issues. However, pupil tracking and progress are improving.

The report identifies 25 per cent of teaching at Parkland Primary in Old Park Road, Bradford as "inadequate".

Its capacity to improve is "severely restricted by lack of urgency within the extended leadership team", it adds.

It also claims "standards of behaviour in the classroom and around school interfere with the learning opportunities of pupils and are a health and safety concern at times".

However, the dossier adds the school's acting head teacher has identified weak areas and is acting appropriately.

Princeville Primary is said to have standards of attainment well below national expectations and truancy which needs addressing as a "matter of urgency".

Head teacher Sara Rawnsley arrived at the school last September and said results were now rising "rapidly". "Pupils, staff and Education Bradford have put in a huge amount of work and we are now an improving school", she added.

Pupils at Ryecroft Primary in Kesteven Close, Holme Wood, are not reaching their "full potential", the report claims, however results are predicted to improve this summer.

Southmere Primary School in Ewart Street, Bradford is said to have failed to use "assessment and tracking information to accurately identify and respond to the needs of all pupils and particularly those pupils underachieving".

Acting head teacher Chris Parfitt said systems were now in place to monitor and evaluate teaching and learning.

Mrs Parfitt, who became acting head this year, added: "I feel valued and supported by governors, staff and children and equally by Education Bradford."

St Joseph's Catholic Primary in Park Lane, Bradford, needs to improve standards and levels of achievement in Key Stages One and Two and clearly identify and provide for pupils who arrive at the school with little or no English.

Head teacher Catherine Markham, said: "Ofsted recognises the improvements in standards already made by the school.

"They also recognise that after a period of many changes in the school, the school has great capacity to make the further improvements necessary."

John Gaskin, Education Bradford's managing director, said: "We have a very robust system for identifying and supporting schools facing difficulties.

"Their progress and the impact of the actions taken by the school, and Education Bradford's services are reported on, along with the next steps to be taken to support the schools' improvement. All this is reported to a group that has Council, DfES, National Strategies, head teachers and union representatives.

We report termly and publicly on the number of schools causing concern and the progress they are making.

The system we have in place ensures that the schools and Education Bradford are held to account."

Councillor Colin Gill (Con, Bingley), Bradford Council's executive member for children's services, said: "I have made it clear to Education Bradford that we must be pro-active in our quest to improve educational standards across the district.

"I am keen that we identify as quickly as possible any school that may be under-performing so that we can take appropriate action immediately and ensure that every single one of our children has access to the best possible education we can give them."

Councillor Ralph Berry (Wibsey), the Labour Group's education spokesman, said: "I welcome the fact that schools are being given adequate support. Previously schools have not been given adequate warning that they may be getting into difficulties."

Councillor David Ward, the Liberal Democrat Group's education spokesman, said: "These are schools which are under-performing.

Four primary schools remain in the Government's special measures category. They are Southmere, Usher Street, St Mary's RC Primary and Horton Grange.

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