EDUCATION services in Leeds schools will now be run by a council owned company.

It had been planned that the company formed to run education support services would include private sector partners. But after a meeting last week between Leeds City Council and the Minister for Schools Standards, Estelle Morris, the new company will be solely owned by the council.

Peter Ridsdale, the Leeds United chairman, will chair the new company and he will be joined on the board by two directors taken from the council and from an organisation in the private sector.

It is planned that the new company will take on the changes needed to improve services and support for schools and to address criticisms levelled at Leeds in last year's Ofsted report.

Councillor Brian Walker, leader of Leeds City Council, said during the last four months he had been visiting and listening to schools.

"I have heard what they say they need to help them in their very demanding task of improving the education of Leeds children."

The council will continue to discuss arrangements with two private sector organisations, Capita and Serco, to provide the necessary expertise and capacity to improve education in Leeds.

The council intends to put the new arrangements into place by April this year.