A union was today lobbying Kirklees Council over a proposal to allow private companies to help run 20 of the district's schools.

West End Middle and Whitcliffe Road First and Nursery schools in Cleckheaton, Carlinghow Princess Royal Junior and Infants, Batley, and Thornhill High, Thornhill, Dewsbury, are among those on the list. The rest are in the Huddersfield area.

The Kirklees branch of Unison claims the Private Finance Initiative - a funding partnership between the Council and a private firm - is "back door" privatisation of schools.

It fears job losses, worse pay, conditions and pension rights for the remaining, cleaning and catering staff and schools being encouraged to sell off or let land for redevelopment.

The union also claims it could mean schools having to pay exorbitant charges and being made to lease buildings for other, more profitable uses.

Roger Grigg, assistant branch secretary, said: "We appreciate schools need more investment but this is not the answer. It is too risky. The schools will have to pay an annual charge over 25 years, even if their school budgets get cut. There are few examples of public private partnerships being successful.''

But the Council says the initiative will mean £40 million ploughed into the 20 schools and a further £20 million over the next 25 years.

Ken Gillespie, the Council's head of public and private partnerships, said: "We have 40 other schools queuing up to take part in this initiative because it will be good value for money.''

The union was lobbying a private meeting of Council's policy and education committees this afternoon. Members were debating whether the authority should ask companies to bid for the partnership.

Kirklees is one of five local authorities being asked by the Government to pilot the PFI which involves forming a joint venture company with a private firm. In return the schools pay a proportion of their budgets over 25 years to the scheme.

Mr Gillespie said: "The Council would expect the private company to protect the jobs, conditions and pension rights of staff for a period and make sure schools are not being over charged.''

Lesley Halstead, head teacher at West End Middle, said: "Our governors are committed to this initiative because it will mean considerable capital investment for the school.''

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