State schools still failing poor pupils

INSPECTORS today criticised the "patently inadequate" standards of too many schools, warning ministers that state education must do better.

One in 10 secondary schools is inadequate and a fifth of children finish primary education unable to read, write and add up properly, according to Ofsted.

The watchdog's chief inspector Christine Gilbert said the poorest pupils often suffered the worst that state education had to offer.

Her annual report to Parliament will be seen as a severe criticism of 11 years of Labour education policy.

It follows international league tables in which England's position slipped and comes amid continuing concern over low levels of basic literacy and numeracy among school-leavers.

More than half of teenagers fail to get five C-grades at GCSE. Ms Gilbert acknowledged that recent years had seen some improvements in exam results and the quality of teaching in state schools.

But she said: "There is still too much that is patently inadequate and too many instances where the rate of improvement is unacceptably low."

The rate of improvement in services for disadvantaged children was "too slow" and the quality of support they received "still not good enough", she said.

Her report said 15 per cent of state schools inspected last year were rated outstanding, half were good and more than a third no better than satisfactory.

She said the best schools will be left alone while inspectors target failing or coasting schools.