Pupils failed by education chiefs

The report says pupils and staff have not had enough support

Education bosses in Northumberland have promised to improve support given to schools, after a critical report from government inspectors.

The damning report from the education watchdog Ofsted said the work of Northumberland's Local Education Authority (LEA) had deteriorated in recent years and was now ineffective and unsatisfactory.

The county's education officials were criticised for failing to offer quality support and guidance to schools struggling to maintain educational standards.

Northumberland County Council is currently assessing how to cope with the problem of up to 7,000 surplus school places.

The authority has already agreed to one school closure, with more likely in the coming months.

'Positive changes'

The Ofsted report highlighted failures in aiding school where pupils were under-achieving and said senior officials are too quick to blame under funding for delays in responding to problems.

Northumberland County Council says it has now come up with an action plan to tackle the problems highlighted in the Ofsted study.

The authority's executive member for children's services, Jim Wright, said : "While we recognise our weaknesses, we also need to celebrate the recent exam successes in Northumberland.

"It is important that parents receive a clear message that schools, the County Council and the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) are working closely together to deliver the best possible education service for people in Northumberland.

"We are confident that a joint commitment will achieve positive changes".

Education Minister David Miliband said: "My officials are working closely with the authority following the Ofsted report.

"The measures already agreed and which are being implemented, such as changes in personnel, should provide a firm basis for the authority to make rapid and sustained improvements to its education provision."