§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools in(a) South Tyneside and (b) South Shields have undergone Ofsted inspections since May 1997; and how many of those have been subject to critical reports. [153298]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisHM Chief Inspector has advised that 72 schools in South Tyneside, including the South Shields area, were inspected by Ofsted between May 1997 and December 2000. Six schools were found to have serious weaknesses, one of which subsequently went into special measures following a re-inspection. Two other schools were judged to require special measures and one was found to be underachieving.
I have asked HM Chief Inspector Mike Tomlinson to write to my right hon. Friend enclosing a full list of the schools inspected and to place a copy of his letter in the Library. The inspection reports can be accessed via Ofsted's website at www.ofsted.gov.uk.