A charity, university or college could be brought in to run Bradford's schools.

Bradford Council Chief Executive Ian Stewart has revealed he has been in discussions with a variety of organisations about the controversial partnership proposals for education across the district.

Previously only private companies had been mentioned as possible partners for the district's education service. At a meeting of the council's economic scrutiny committee last night, Mr Stewart said there were a number of options including a joint venture with both a private and a public or voluntary sector partner.

And he ruled out keeping things as they are.

He said: "The issue isn't whether to move away from the current local education authority model, but when."

He also revealed some companies he had spoken to were put off running Bradford education because they felt they would not have enough 'leverage' in a partnership with the council to achieve the tough targets being suggested.

The chief executive wants to see exam results in Bradford to be above the national average within ten years and in the top 25 per cent in 20 years.

Meanwhile, a top-level council delegation is set to discuss how to improve the area's education service in advance of Tuesday's publication of the district's long awaited Ofsted report.

The council's three main party leaders and Mr Stewart have been invited for the discussion with school standards minister Estelle Morris at the Department for Education and Employment in London.

Liberal Democrat leader councillor Jeanette Sunderland said she thought the meeting would concern what action the council should take following the Ofsted report - which is expected to be highly critical of the district's education service.

"I think the minister is going to give direction on what Bradford should be doing," she said. "I expect that she will be spelling out the options."

At last night's meeting, Mr Stewart admitted Ofsted had been an influence in the council's partnership proposals for education in Bradford.

He said it was better to develop a tailor-made and unique, alternative model for delivering education so the council would be at less risk of having an unsuitable solution imposed.

Mr Stewart told the committee he might have a suitable outline model to present when the council's leadership had been decided. But he warned that everything could change when the Ofsted report was published.

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