Another two Bradford schools are planning to become privately-sponsored independently-run city academies, it has been revealed.

Rhodesway School in Allerton and Carlton Bolling College in Undercliffe have both submitted expressions of interests to the Government.

If successful the schools would close and be replaced with newly built academies, with £2 million cash support provided from a private sponsor and another £20 million from the Department for Education and Skills.

The plans were announced yesterday by Bradford Council's director of education Phil Green at a hearing to debate the role of city academies in the district.

Mr Green said Bradford Council was in talks with the Government about another inner city school becoming an academy.

He declined to name the school but said the DfES had concerns over the suitability of the site.

City academies were introduced in 2002 to reverse the fortunes of struggling inner city schools. They are run by private sponsors which have to provide £2 million cash to help pay for a new building.

Dixons City Academy in West Bowling became the first to open in Bradford when it transferred from City Technology College status last month, and Bradford Cathedral Community College in East Bowling will become Bradford Academy, backed by social charity TocH, in 2007.

Sir Bruce Liddington, the head of the DfES's new projects unit, told a meeting at the St Peter's Centre for Learning yesterday that the Government was targeting Bradford for city academies because school results were not good enough. He said: "Bradford faces tough social issues, and educational standards - although showing signs of improvement this summer - are not good enough in the long term for this city."

Sir Bruce revealed to the Telegraph & Argus that the Government has held talks with Muslim community groups in Bradford about the possibility of opening an Islamic city academy.

However councillors and teachers have voiced fears over the creation of more faith schools in Bradford.

Councillor Phil Thornton, the chairman of Bradford Council's Young People and Education Improvement Committee, said: "I would look at any proposal which can improve the educational achievements of pupils in the district but I am not sure Bradford needs more faith schools, whether they be Muslim or any other faith group. I don't think the polarisation of different groups is in the interests of community cohesion."

Former Lord Mayor of Bradford Mohammed Ajeeb suggested that existing state schools should improve their integration policies.

He said that the catchment area policies made it difficult for children of different races to mix.

"If we do not do something we will continue to have a situation where the children from a particular race or religion cluster in one school exclusively," he said.

Mr Ajeeb said that through greater integration children would be able to understand each other's culture, values and backgrounds and the current situation "restricts children's ability to widen their horizons".

"It is a very sensitive area. I think someone has got to think about it and discuss it openly otherwise the current situation perpetuates."