More than half of secondary schools across England are falling below standard, with government inspectors judging one in eight "inadequate", according to the schools watchdog.

Ofsted’s annual report, which is based on evidence from inspections of 6,000 state schools, found that 49 per cent were good or outstanding, meaning there is a wide gap between the best and worst.

Of the 13 per cent of schools found to be inadequate, about one third fell into the most serious category where they are put into special measures and school leadership is deemed incapable of achieving change.

The remaining two thirds have been served with a notice to improve. A large chunk, 38 per cent, have been judged merely satisfactory.

The report also reveals that school attendance is not adequate in one in 10 schools, with problems in London and the north of England in particular.

Christine Gilbert, the chief inspector of schools, condemned the high failure rate, and demanded urgent action to raise standards.

"The report card for English education has been increasingly encouraging over the past 10 years, but it is still not good enough." A good education, she said, can "liberate and empower" children.

"The story is not always positive, however," she said.

"That is why I am so concerned at the gap between the best provision and that which makes and inadequate contribution to improving the life chances of children and young people."

The number of schools judged inadequate is nearly double the nearest comparable statistic in last year’s report by the former Chief Inspector of Schools.

However, the findings follow the first year of a new inspection system, in which Ofsted conducted "shorter and sharper" inspections, giving schools only a few days’ notice before visiting.

"The new inspection arrangements have raised the bar, but without putting it out of reach," Ms Gilbert said.

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