I HAVE read that some of our local schools will become part of an 'education action zone' being set up by the Education Authority.

My son attends one of these schools, Bedford High, which we have been told is very successful in getting good GCSE grades.

I am confused about the situation because I have been told that the action zones have been set up to improve the standards in failing schools.

I only want the best for my son but we're not sure exactly what is happening to his school as there are all sorts of rumours going round.

A concerned parent

Editor's note: The action zones have not been set up to improve standards in failing schools but to improve education in "deprived" areas i.e. those hit by the loss of industry.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.