Ofsted has detailed a sharp rise in the number of failing schools and an increase in truancy among 11 to 16-year-olds.

In his annual report the chief inspector of schools, David Bell, revealed that 330 schools have been put on special measures over the last year.

The sharp rise will raise fresh fears that many state schools are falling behind as the quality of education is polarised between the best and the worst.

Bell said a greater number of schools were deemed to be failing as a result of a "more rigorous" inspections regime.

Inspectors call

"In September 2003 we introduced a new school inspection framework that set new expectations of schools," he said.

"As the performance of schools has improved over the years it is only right that we should have higher expectations.

"Not to do so would be to condemn youngsters to a standard of education that might have been acceptable 10 years ago but is clearly no longer so."

News that the number of schools put on special measures has grown for the second year in a row will also set alarm bells ringing in government.

These schools face closure unless there is a marked improvement in their performance over coming months.

Schools are currently being closed down at a rate of more than one a week.

"About 1,000 schools are not making sufficient progress between inspections. Over the last three years 10 per cent of schools inspected have not improved enough," said Bell.

Education minister Stephen Twigg maintained that the report showed improvement but added the report "gives us no room to be complacent".

Unruly pupils

In his annual report Bell has also detailed a rise in the levels of bad behaviour in schools.

In a bid to tackle the issue Ruth Kelly has vowed to crack down on unruly pupils.

He also identifies the continuing difference in progress between different groups of pupils.

He raises the impact of social class and the continuing variability in performance of schools and colleges as a key area of concern.

The chief inspector also warns that absenteeism has risen slightly in secondary schools.

"Attendance in primary schools has shown a slight improvement but is still unsatisfactory in a quarter of schools," he added.

"Often this is where schools are not supported sufficiently by parents in ensuring their children are punctual and attend school regularly."

Response

Responding to the findings, the National Union of Teachers called for a renewed focus on social inequalities in education performance.

“The education secretary must now act on the implications of the chief inspector’s concerns," said general secretary Steve Sinnott.

“One consequence must be the release of additional resources targeted at the specific needs of disadvantaged children. This must include personal tuition at key points in a child’s life.

"A far more systematic approach to funding schools to meet needs in areas of social deprivation must be developed. We must bring down all the barriers to learning."

Commenting on the union's demand, Twigg added: "I am determined that we must break the link between disadvantage and achievement.

"The fundamental aim of both the Primary and the Key Stage 3 National Strategies is to ensure that all pupils have the opportunity to achieve regardless of their circumstances.

The education minister went on to say that the  fastest improvements at GCSE were being seen in "some of the most deprived areas" through initiatives such as "excellence in cities" and London challenge.

But Phil Willis, Liberal Democrat education spokesman, said Bell had delivered "a damning report on Labour's second term".

"This report shows the government’s abject failure to close the achievement gap between pupils from more affluent areas and our most vulnerable children," he said.