Last week Education Bradford refused to answer a series of questions put to it by the Telegraph & Argus after it was revealed 11-year-olds in Bradford recorded the second-worst exam results in the country.

Education Bradford managing director John Gaskin has today given the following answers to those questions, which, we believe, every parent of a primary school pupil in the Bradford district deserved.

Question 1: Why, five years into a ten-year £360 million contract, is Bradford back to square one in terms of its primary league table position?

Answer: We are in the same position in the league table but not in the same position in terms of the rate of improvement between 2001 and 2006. We are not happy that we have not improved at a rate equal with the national rate and we have measures in place to deal with that.

But what it does show quite clearly is that it is palpably untrue to talk about us being back to square one.

The rate of improvement compared with other authorities has been good. You might say it has even been very good.

I think that's a message that needs to get out to the people of Bradford, for the teachers in schools who have achieved that but most importantly for the pupils - some of who will see what's written in the press and will get the message that they are second rate and they are not. There have been lots of individual successes. The league tables are based on an aggregate score and not the improvement made over time.

Question 2: How can Education Bradford turn things round to meet the achievement goals over the next five years?

Answer: As a result of the 2006 outcome we have explained very clearly what the major issue is - which is a lack of focus on pupil progress. We have identified what needs to be done to accelerate achievement.

Question 3: Why haven't long-term problems like the achievement levels of so many inner-city Bradford schools been addressed by now?

Answer: I have been in post for just over a year and exactly what happened in the past I do not know. I am concerned about looking to the future. It is clear that there has not been enough focus put onto the issue of pupil progress. What we have got is schools who are not adding the amount of progress that we would want. We are now putting much more focus on pupil progress and tracking that progress.

Question 4: Will the worsening primary school standards, relative to other LEAs, erode the achievement gains made by the district's secondary schools in future years?

Answer: There is nothing to support that view at all - in fact the evidence is to the contrary. It's very interesting that the pupils who finished Key Stage 2 in 2001 have just produced the best GCSE results ever in 2006. Our secondary schools have shown that they can accelerate progress. There is nothing to suggest that this year's results will lead to low results in five years time.

Question 5: What is your response to the call by some Bradford MPs, councillors and teaching unions to terminate the contract now?

Answer: No comment. There is a need however for all parties to face up to their responsibilities.

Question 6: Is Education Bradford committed to seeing out the contract?

Answer: Yes.

Question 7: You have admitted yourself that Education Bradford is not doing a good enough job, and this year was a missed opportunity. Is Education Bradford or its parent company Serco putting in enough resources to do what is necessary?

Answer: Yes. An Audit Commission review noted that Serco had invested £8.5 million in the first five years of the contract.

Question 8: How can Education Bradford justify receiving annual cash bonuses on this record?

Answer: Incentive payments are made when incentive targets set by the council are met or exceeded. Any income from targets is an integral part of our budget.