Radical changes to Bradford's secondary school structure were revealed today to help boost pupils' performances.

Schools across the district will be divided into five blocks - called confederations - from September 2005 so they can share resources to give 14- to 19-year-old students a far greater subject choice.

Each confederation will also enjoy close links with Bradford College and work-based training providers.

The project - which follows a damning Ofsted report two years ago criticising restricted curriculum choice for pupils - is one of the first of its type in Britain.

Today, Angela Dobson, director of quality improvement at the Bradford-based Learning and Skills Council for West Yorkshire, which has spearheaded the DfES-supported scheme, said: "This kind of long-term collaboration is very exciting.

"It is a huge change to the entire culture of education across the whole district and Bradford is leading the way nationally.

"The idea is that the confederations work together. Each of the schools in the confederation has something to offer. All the pupils at all the confederations' schools can access each other's facilities.

"You could have a situation where a pupil goes to one school for one subject and then another school for a different option, allowing the schools to focus more on their own strengths too.

"The idea is that the confederations will provide flexible learning and let students access the very best courses including vocational options which fit in with their timetables."

Mark Pattison, Education Bradford's managing director, said he was confident that the confederation approach would bring about improved results.

"We believe there is great benefit in partnership working and are confident that the confederations will help raise standards and widen opportunities for young people aged 14 to 19 in the district."

The five confederations are South Bradford; Bradford North, South West by West; Keighley, Ilkley and Bingley, and Shipley.

Gareth Dawkins, head teacher of Challenge College - part of the Bradford North confederation - said: "Each confederation works in a different way depending on their situations. It's not a case of one size fits all. In Bradford North, we are working bilaterally by pairing up.

"We have teamed up with Laisterdyke, Immanuel and Hanson will work together and Feversham and Carlton Bolling will work together.

"We are already working with Laisterdyke so that almost any combination you could imagine is possible in the sixth form, our students travelling there for lessons, their pupils coming here and a mix of the two. It works very well.

"We will be continuing to develop this work across the confederation. It's a massive task but a really exciting time."

The Council's executive member for education, Councillor David Ward, agreed the confederations would give pupils a much greater subject choice.

"We want to overcome the problem of inefficient use of resources, where you would get courses provided for very small groups which was not sustainable. It will also contribute to community cohesion."

The Conservative group spokesman for education, Councillor Dale Smith, said: "Young people are now going to get access to a whole range of provision. It is about making sure provision is good quality and value. The whole thing is about raising standards."

And Labour group education spokesman, Councillor Phil Thornton, said: "I think it is the way forward and I am delighted."