Half of secondary schools in England do not provide a good education, Ofsted has said.

Its annual report, published on Wednesday, said 49 per cent were rated no better than "satisfactory", which the watchdog said is no longer deemed good enough.

Chief inspector Christine Gilbert said despite improvements on last year, more schools should aim to provide a good education.

"The proportion of 'inadequate' secondary schools has fallen from 13 per cent in 2005/06 to 10 per cent this year, but the figure is still too high and is a cause for significant concern," she said.

Some 14 per cent of schools were judged to be "outstanding", up from 11 per cent last year.

Overall, 522 state school of all types were in special measures by the summer term this year.

Ofsted expressed concern over behaviour, which was "just satisfactory" in 29 per cent of schools.

Gilbert also warned that schools were not giving children a clear understanding of their own identity and "what it means to be British".