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.