David Bell says catch-up lessons have huge long-term significance

Introducing the English education watchdog's annual report, he said extra lessons in English and maths would see "huge improvements" in GCSE results.

He rejected claims that having to spend millions on such lessons meant earlier school initiatives had failed.

Mr Bell also called for improvement in schools which were "coasting".

'Mediocrity'

These schools could appear to have adequate test and exam results, he said, but "while not in a state of crisis, are providing nothing better than mediocrity".

OFSTED REPORT 70% secondary schools good or better 7% secondary schools unsatisfactory or poor (10% last year) 68% primary schools good or better 4% primary schools unsatisfactory or poor (5% last year) 1% schools in special measures (1.5% last year) PE facilities unsatisfactory in quarter of secondary schools

And he promised that the inspection system would take a tougher line with these schools which were not improving quickly enough and which had problems "below the surface".

Mr Bell's annual assessment of England's schools showed an overall picture of improvement - with fewer failing schools, an increase in schools where improvement was "very good" and a slight reduction in problems of poor behaviour.

"This year's annual report again presents an encouraging report card, highlighting many strong features of both childcare and education," said Mr Bell.

But he highlighted weaknesses in maths at GCSE, a lack of adequate facilities for PE and a widening problem of boys lagging behind girls.

The report also argued that the role of inspections had been part of the picture of progress - showing how schools had been put back on the road to recovery.

'Insufficient grasp of the basics'

In terms of raising standards, he pointed to the long-term significance of the plans announced this week to introduce catch-up classes, which will be targeted at pupils who arrive in secondary school without the basic skills in literacy and numeracy.

"It's absolutely right that this is a huge priority," said Mr Bell, saying that he "totally endorsed" the plans and the "substantial sums" to support the catch-up lessons, including an extra �120m and further sums earmarked from school funding.

Although standards were rising in primary school, he warned that there were still "a lot of youngsters not making the progress to the expected level in primary school".

"We need an even greater focus on those children who at the moment are going into secondary education with an insufficient grasp of the basics.

"If we get them off to a good start, they are more likely to go on to achieve good results at 16. The evidence is irrefutable that if they have a decent crop of GCSEs, they are more likely to stay on beyond 16.

"If we can get those pupils we will see huge improvements down the line," said Mr Bell.

Education Secretary Ruth Kelly is set to publish a White Paper on schools next week - and this is expected to place a greater emphasis on more "personalised" lessons for young people.

Single-sex classes

As well as catch-up lessons, there could be more distinctions between different ability levels - and Mr Bell said that the idea of "setting" by ability was a "legitimate option" which most secondary schools already employed.

He also said that schools were customising lessons in other ways, such as single-sex lessons to address the under-achievement of boys.

The education secretary said the report showed the improvements in the school system.

"There are still real challenges ahead, but we are now focusing on the rate at which schools improve and how we can accelerate that progress," said Ms Kelly.

Conservative education spokesman, David Cameron, said the annual report provided "further proof that this government is failing to get a proper grip on the basics".

Mary Bousted, leader of the ATL teachers' union, said that "teachers will resent the suggestion that some schools are 'coasting', when all the evidence is that teachers are working hard and pupil performance continues to improve".