Norfolk County Council pledges to improve schools

Norfolk County Council's new administration has stressed its commitment to improving county schools.

Ofsted is due to return to Norfolk next week after inspections in March raised "considerable concern".

Inspectors said six schools needed to go into special measures, and 11 previously deemed "satisfactory" were found to need improvement.

Mick Castle, Labour cabinet member for schools, said raising attainment levels would be a priority.

"I would like to reassure parents, head teachers, everyone to do with the school system that this administration wishes to see improvement," he said.

"We wish to see Norfolk schools attaining the same kind of levels of attainment as in other authorities, certainly over the next three or four years."

Inspectors had expressed concern at the relatively low proportion of schools rated as "good" or outstanding" in the county.

They will return next week to see if the council's improvement plans are working.

Norfolk County Council was Conservative-run until last month, when the Tories lost control following the local elections.

They now form the opposition, with the authority run by a three-way alliance of Labour, UKIP and the Liberal Democrats with support from the Greens and Independent members.