Schools urged to crack down on classroom misbehaviour

Schools in England are suffering from a culture of "casual acceptance" of classroom misbehaviour, Ofsted's chief inspector has warned.

In his second annual report, Sir Michael Wilshaw warned there is also a trend of white working class children being left behind and a "postcode lottery" in schools.

ITV News political correspondent Romilly Weeks reports from Norfolk:

Sir Michael highlights that children who attend schools in London, Greater Manchester and Devon are "lucky" as they have a better chance of a decent education.

"Unlucky" areas stated in the report include the Isle of Wight, Northumberland and Norfolk.

Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt said Ofsted's annual report shows David Cameron is "threatening school standards" with "a damaging postcode lottery education system".

Mr Hunt said:

Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw's second annual report also found:

• Poor white children - the largest proportion of children eligible for free school meals, a key measure of poverty - are lagging far behind their classmates. Since 2007, their attainment has improved at a slower rate than other ethnic groups.

• There are only three local authorities where fewer than 60% of primary-age pupils attend a school rated good or better, compared to 23 last year.
• In 13 local authorities less than half of secondary-age pupils attend a good or outstanding school.

• Teaching was rated good or outstanding in 65% of schools, compared to 62% last year.
• But there were more maths and English lessons judged to be less than good by inspectors than many other subjects.

Read: Ofsted inspector calls for classroom culture change

In his second annual Ofsted report, chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw admitted that the culture in classrooms had to change, as well as the expectations placed on children.

Read: Ofsted report suggests 'too much mediocre teaching'

Ofsted's annual report has suggested three factors are hindering progress in schools; too much mediocre teaching and weak leadership, regional differences in the quality of education and the underachievement of poor children, especially white youngsters.

Inspectors found that a lot of poor teaching found in primary schools was in the younger age groups, a time when pupils need the best teaching not the weakest.

Under the current system, pupils' performance in English and maths at the age of seven is assessed by their teachers.

But Ofsted inspectors found "worrying inconsistencies" in teachers' assessments.

Sir Michael Wilshaw said that it is for these reasons that he was urging government to consider a return to external testing after two years of formal schooling.

Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw has announced, for the first time, schools with behaviour problems will face unannounced inspections in a bid to crack down on disruption in the classroom.

England's schools are suffering from a culture of "casual acceptance" of misbehaviour and lessons should not be undermined by "background chatter, inattention and horseplay," he suggested during a speech in London.

Mr Wilshaw also said children should be tested on English and maths at the age of seven to ensure they are mastering the basics.

The report concludes that the education system is gradually improving, with almost eight out of 10 schools now rated as good or better.

But nearly a quarter of a million pupils are still languishing in failing schools, and a further 1.5 million are being taught in schools that require improvement.

Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw will today call on leaders in schools who are failing to deal with naughty behaviour to create a "calm and respectful culture essential for learning".

In a speech he is due to give in London, Wilshaw believes lessons should not be undermined by "background chatter, inattention and horseplay".

As part of his annual Ofsted report, Sir Michael will warn that there are "stark inequities" across England, with a child's chances of being taught at a good school far too dependent on where they live.

He will add that the "battle against mediocrity" is gradually being won, but that England is still a nation divided into "lucky and unlucky children".

Read: Ofsted wants crackdown on classroom misbehaviour