AN East Lancashire teachers' leader has heaped praise on a departing education chief, leaving for a £50,000 pay rise -- but said he was concerned he was joining the private sector.

Blackburn with Darwen's director of education and training Mark Pattison is to become the £130,000-a-year managing director of Education Bradford, the newly-privatised city education authority. .

Simon Jones, divisional secretary of the Blackburn with Darwen National Union of Teachers, said: "I am very sorry to see him go. He has done a fabulous job setting up the new local education authority and running it for the past four years.

"We have had excellent working relationship with him and his team. We have had disagreements but always managed to resolve issues without rancour and in the best interest of children, teachers, schools and the wider education service.

"In my opinion Mark's greatest strength is his commitment to teamwork

Mr Jones added: "His leaving is a great concern but if we are going to have greater private sector involvement in the running of local education authorities, then it is better these companies are run by people like Mark."