The future for the current review of secondary education and sixth form provision now looks bleak

Ofsted report

In a report on Bristol's education service, the inspectorate, Ofsted, has said there remain "serious weaknesses" - not least in financial management.

In response, the School Standards Minister, Estelle Morris, has said that a "partnership board" with an independent chairman will be set up to oversee the city's education strategy.

This will include external consultants, including some from other local education authorities.

Tax vote

In a referendum last month, residents opted for a freeze on council tax levels, despite warnings from the city council's ruling Labour group that this would lead to cuts in education spending.

Details of Ofsted's second inspection of the authority were published as controversy in the city mounts over proposals to cut almost �2m from the education budget.

The situation was criticised in the inspectors' report: "The lack of a long-term strategy for funding education has left councillors poorly prepared to make the right decisions on where cuts must fall."

Inspectors said the council had also made a poor decision in overturning a recommendation that two failing primary schools with over 25% surplus places should close.

"Even elected members admit that the future for the current review of secondary education and sixth form provision now looks bleak," the report said.

Further inspection

Mr Tomlinson said the authority would have to be inspected for a third time, because "significant weaknesses remained".

The first inspection in 1999 found the authority had failed to raise standards in schools and lacked effective strategic planning.

More must be done by members and officers to ensure that education in Bristol advances, and that schools get the support and direction they need and deserve

Mike Tomlinson, chief inspector

The removal of surplus places and the provision of education for the 16-19 age group was also condemned by inspectors.

But the second inspection, while acknowledging there had been some satisfactory progress, highlighted weaknesses in budget management and financial control and in the allocation of resources to priorities.

Key Stage 3 pupils who had been excluded from school were getting "wholly inadequate provision", inspectors said.

"Comprehensive pupil-level data are still not available to inform target-setting.

"And the LEA has not provided adequate support to help schools raise attainment in information and communication technology," the report said.

Uncertain future

Mr Tomlinson said: "Bristol local education authority has moved forward since its last inspection, but the future remains uncertain.

"More must be done by members and officers to ensure that education in Bristol advances, and that schools get the support and direction they need and deserve.

"Given the remaining concerns, a further inspection by Ofsted will be required to ensure that progress is made in tackling the weaknesses."

The LEA was praised, though, for the use it had made of electronic communications and the development of a local intranet.

Partneship scheme

In response, Bristol City Council promised to create a partnership board with the Department for Education.

The council plans to draw upon the experience of other local authorities to share best practice

Bristol City Council

This would help "to rebuild confidence and assist the city council in reaching decisions critical to the future of the education service in Bristol", it said in a statement.

"The council also plans to draw upon the experience of other local authorities to share best practice as an action plan is prepared to further improve the experience of children in Bristol schools," the statement said.

But the council stressed that there would be no outsourcing of its education services and management.