A DRIVE to attract top teachers to Bradford is being backed by a £660,000 investment by Council chiefs.

While the budgets of many departments are shrinking, the Labour-run authority has provided additional funding into the education budget, specifically to recruit and develop teachers and school leaders.

The money will be spread over three years, and in the first year £150,000 out of £220,000 will be spent on the district's teaching schools and school partnerships.

Teaching schools are those rated as "outstanding" by Ofsted and will play a key role in training teachers and school leaders. School Partnerships involve schools coming together to share ideas on how best to improve standards, as well as offer support to schools struggling in certain areas.

How the rest of the funding will be spent will be decided at a later date.

Last year, Professor David Woods, an architect of the successful London Challenge that improved school performance in the capital, was commissioned to see how the authority could improve education standards.

Responding to the recommendations in his report, the Council has now appointed Sara Rawnsley, head teacher at Princeville Primary School, to the task of recruiting and retaining top head teachers in the district.

Council leader David Green said: "This new £660,000 investment comes at a time of big budget cuts, so it demonstrates just how important education is to the Council.

"High quality education is vital for our young people and for the resurgence of the district. We are putting our money where our mouth is and we are channelling that money where it can have the greatest impact.”

Councillor Ralph Berry, the executive member for children's services, said: "Injecting this sum directly into the Teaching Schools and Partnerships demonstrates the faith we have in our excellent teachers. We are working in partnership with the schools and using all the tools we have at our disposal so together we can transform education for our young people.

"We are investing in a school-to-school led system because placing high quality schools at the heart of driving forward improvements is proven to deliver better results.

"We are doing everything in our powers to support and challenge our schools to drive up standards.”

Councillor Debbie Davies, Conservative spokesman for education, said: "This is something I support. The proof will be in the pudding and we'll have to see if it gets the right teachers in. I hope this makes a difference."