Wandsworth gets inspectors' praise

Wandsworth and York education services were praised

Wandsworth, the London borough which has championed selection, has received a favourable report from education inspectors.

According to the Office for Standards in Education, the local authority performs "the great majority of its functions well".

The City of York's education service also received a very favourable report from Ofsted.

But inspectors questioned the "complex" admissions system in Wandsworth, which has resisted efforts to reduce selection by state schools.

The authority last year took legal action to protect partial selection in its schools, when the admissions adjudicator sought to reduce the proportion of places allocated by admission tests.

Wandsworth is a good example of a local education authority performing well in a borough with significantly more disadvantage than most

Chris Woodhead, Chief Inspector of Schools in England

The education watchdog has savaged a number of local education authorities in recent months - with further critical reports anticipated this month.

But the report on Wandsworth was strongly favourable, with comments on the "high quality of performance" and "highly effective management".

"Wandsworth is a good example of a local education authority performing well, in a borough with significantly more disadvantage than most areas of England", said the schools chief inspector, Chris Woodhead.

'Freedom to perform'

The shadow education secretary, Theresa May, said the Conservative-controlled authority contrasted markedly with the performances of Labour-controlled authorities.

She said it showed how educational standards could be improved if schools were given the freedom to get on with the job.

Two other London boroughs - Islington and Hackney - have had much of their education services put out to private contract after highly critical inspections.

But there is no clear political monopoly on performance.

The last London borough to be praised by inspectors, Camden, has now become an approved provider of services to other, less successful authorities. It is run by Labour.

Also published by Ofsted on Thursday was a favourable report for the City of York education service, which has been applauded by inspectors for its achievements since being set up in 1996.

Chris Woodhead praised the "strong leadership" of the education authority, which had seen schools achieving above average test and exam results.

An inspection report on education services in Bradford is expected to be published this month - with a report on the London Borough of Westminster due next month.