'Massive task' to close schools gap

The Government faces a massive task in turning round the worst inner-city secondary schools, the chief schools inspector warns in his annual report today.

New Labour is targeting secondary schools in its second term, with huge investment aimed at extending its success in boosting the basics among younger pupils.

But Mike Tomlinson warns in his final annual report that, despite the Government's efforts, the gap between the best and worst secondary schools is actually widening, with the worst stubbornly failing to improve.

Narrowing the achievement gap in secondary schools will be harder than in primaries, he says. He points to the teacher recruitment crisis as one of the biggest single factors in holding schools back. Up to three out of 10 teachers in inner- city secondary schools are on temporary contracts or are supply teachers, his report says, and the impact on pupils, often taught by teachers with poor specialist knowledge of the subject, can be devastating.

In last year's report Mr Tomlinson - due later this year to take over as chairman of the new trust set up to take charge of education in Hackney - said teacher shortages were at their worst level in his near 40-year experience in state education.

This year's report says that despite desperate Government efforts to boost recruitment and to stem the flood of teachers leaving the profession, the picture is little better.

He also points to continuing worries about the poor performance of specific groups of pupils, including white working class boys and Afro-Caribbean pupils.

However, he says there is continuing improvement in the quality of teaching in English schools. His report shows that the proportion of good, very good and excellent teaching has risen this year.