Serious concerns have been voiced over multi-million pound plans to get the private sector involved in Essex's education system.

Essex County Council, the local education authority, is seeking a private sector partner to help run school-related services in the county.

Three firms have been shortlisted for the deal, which will be worth between £8million and £33million a year, and will include the running of a range of services.

These include improvement and advisory services, special educational needs and planning, access, financial and personnel services.

The deal involves a partnership agreement between the LEA and the selected private sector partner.

Jerry Glazier, general secretary of Essex National Union of Teachers (NUT), said he was "immensely concerned" and added he feared the upheaval involved in the partnership process might undermine some of the strengths in the Essex educational system.

He said he was concerned private firms might use Essex, which won a glowing Ofsted report, as a vehicle for gaining a good reputation elsewhere in the country.

Iris Pummell, the county council's cabinet member for children's services and schools, said the process was being handled very carefully to avoid any concerns about the LEA's strong points being "asset stripped".

She said: "I am quite determined that the provisions a partner actually provides is of the top quality and contributes to investment of the service over and above what we do already."

Published Friday, March 8, 2002