The annual report of the chief inspector of schools, Mike Tomlinson, will today warn of the problems created by a shortage of teachers. Increased use of supply teachers, higher staff turnover and a mismatch between the subjects teachers are required to teach and their actual qualifications and experience have been highlighted.

The report is also likely to point to an improvement in standards in secondary schools, where only six per cent of teaching will be rated as bad, compared to 30 per cent a decade ago.