A blueprint setting out how private sector bosses plan to raise classroom standards in Bradford has won Government approval.

Leaders at Education Bradford, now run by private firm Serco, are relieved their Education Development Plan has been passed. They burned midnight oil preparing the detailed document in order to make the deadline, which came soon after top officials joined Education Bradford.

The DfES approval is seen as a vote of confidence for the direction in which Serco is taking Bradford schools. "We are delighted that the DfES has given its approval to EDP2," said Mark Pattison, managing director at Education Bradford.

"It means we can now push ahead without any obstacles to bringing about step changes in education in the Bradford district. We are working towards sustained year-on-year improvement in performance to become the best performing major city in the country in ten years."

DfES figures show Bradford has been given a target of making sure 50 per cent of leavers have at least five 'good' A-C GCSE by 2004. Last summer, only 33 per cent of them achieved this so improvements will have to come fast.

If the 2004 target is met, Bradford, currently 14th from bottom in the GCSE tables, would leapfrog Barnsley and Doncaster and catch up with Leeds which has also been privatised, and Wakefield, currently mid-table.

EDP2 was approved along with others from throughout the UK. It was drafted after consultation with heads, governors and parents representatives and outlines how self-managing schools will be given increased support. It replaces the previous EDP, prepared in 1999, which was slated by Ofsted for lacking enough focus.

The new one has five priorities set by Government to do with raising standards for different age groups and helping under-performing ethnic groups, plus an extra local priority: promoting partnership, cohesion and regeneration.

School Standards Minister Stephen Timms said: "These new plans are even stronger than the first round, and I am pleased to approve Bradford's proposals."

Jane Bingham, head of Killinghall Primary, was involved in EDP2's preparation. She said: "The priorities stated in EDP2 should help us raise attainment and move towards achieving our targets. I am very pleased that it has been approved."