THE chief inspector of schools last night outlined his vision for the future of education - providing high-quality teaching in the basics alongside an enjoyable curriculum.

Speaking at the Hermitage Lecture, at Hermitage School, in Chester-le-Street, David Bell said: "I am passionate about the need for education to be a good thing for every child and young person in the land, wherever they live, whatever their personal circumstances.

"The first challenge for schools remains to balance the secure teaching of understandably basic skills of reading, writing and mathematics with the breadth and richness of a curriculum that feels relevant, exciting and outward looking.

"Secondly, schools have the responsibility - along with others of course - for preparing children for life in society.

"Education is not a commodity. It is about more than preparing young people to contribute to the global , or indeed, local economy."

Mr Bell said the quality of teaching had never been higher, while levels of achievement, particularly in primary schools, had improved.

But he added: "It grieves me each year in my annual report to Parliament to report on the extent of the gap between the best schools in the country and the least effective.

"The gap is still too great and if it is narrowing it is taking too long to narrow."