The idea of setting up an international school in Birmingham has been knocking around for some time.

Earlier this year it resulted in a delegation of representatives from the business community and Birmingham City Council going on a fact-finding mission to Lyon.

The city, which is twinned to Birmingham, has two international schools.

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They are considered key to the Rhone-Alpes' region's ability to attract inward investment and new foreign companies to the area.

So inspired by the Lyon model was the Midland delegation that upon arriving back in the UK they issued a statement saying: "The West Midlands urgently needs an international school if it is to compete in attracting foreign companies into the region."

That vision now appears about to become a reality in Birmingham with the city council taking the lead.

The international school that is being envisaged by the authority would most likely take the International Baccalaureate taught in English as its basis.

There are already schools in the the West Midlands offering the IB programme but only alongside GCSEs and A levels and not specifically designed to meet the needs of children from overseas.

What the Birmingham scheme will aim to offer is a school where children from overseas can go for a few years and pick up the same programme when their family move on.

Education could either be provided free or heavily subsidised by the authority and the business community.

According to the Institute of Directors, such a facility is not just a nice idea, but a necessity to the future of Birmingham.

"If the city is prepared to take the lead on this, we are more than happy to support it, because it is something that the city cannot do without," said John James, chairman of the region's IoD.

"If we don't get it we will not attract major companies to invest in the region because their workforce will demand the educational facilities that are so vital."

Relevant educational options was as important to many overseas workers as environment, added Mr James. He claimed lack of suitable facilities was already holding back inward investment in the city.

"The number of companies that have moved to this region from scratch over the last ten years isn't that many," he said. "Part of the reason for that in my view is that there hasn't been the educational choice they demand for their staff."

Mr James said the region would benefit from at least another two international schools - one for the Coventry area, another serving the Black Country.

The CBI said it would be a bonus for foreign workers. Regional director Chris Clifford said: "It is often difficult for them to get their children into mainstream education here. Sometimes that results in splitting parents from children, which can discourage people to move around and we don't want that to happen."

Kasia Kurowska, of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce's policy unit, said: "We welcome anything that would help improve relationships between other countries."