More schools failing Ofsted

Results show the number of schools classed as inadequate has more than doubled to 10 per cent in comparison to the 2008 / 9 inspection period. Only 9 per cent of schools were given the rating of outstanding, compared previously to 19 per cent.

Ofsted inspectors are now said to assess schools in a “short, sharp” fashion with more focus on weaker schools.

Children’s Secretary Ed Balls was not surprised at more schools being seen to be inadequate but did emphasise that a single term’s figures were no measurable means of a reliable indicator for a school’s annual performance:

"It is absolutely no surprise that there is a higher rate of inadequate schools at the start of the inspection cycle - exactly the same happened when a tougher inspection regime was introduced in 2005.

"Weaker schools are being specifically inspected more regularly and earlier in the inspection cycle to turn them around - while outstanding and good schools are now inspected every five years and satisfactory schools every three years."

Although the results seem to have been tougher, schools' response have been overwhelmingly positive with 9 out of 10 claiming satisfaction in the way new assessment was carried out, especially with the shift in focus now on student achievement.

However, with such a downturn in results, it seems clear that with new changes to inspection must come new changes to the ways a lot of schools are run to meet with the new assessment criteria.

Michael Gove, Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, said: "Today's figures show that thousands of children are being taught in schools that are not good enough".