LONDON, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- A sustained, four-year improvement in British schools is being hindered by dull teachers who don't inspire their students, officials say.
A report released Monday by Britain's Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills referred to a "stubborn core" of poor teachers who are holding back more gains in education, which have seen increases in the number of schools rated good or outstanding by the watchdog office, The Guardian reported.
The report comes after the group, known as Ofsted, was criticized for insufficiently inspecting children's services in Haringey, where the 2007 death of 17-month-old Baby Peter sparked national outrage, and for introducing unpopular new childrens' services inspections, the newspaper said.
The number of local governments failing to safeguard vulnerable children has more than doubled in the past year, the Ofsted contends.
"There is a small but increased minority of councils that are performing poorly, principally because they are not ensuring children are as safe as possible," Christine Gilbert, Ofsted's chief inspector, told the Guardian. "Yes, Ofsted has become more demanding of local authorities and, again, I make no apology for this, because if our work saves just one child from abuse, torture or death, then this is justified."
