A REPORT by education watchdog Ofsted says that a council is strongly committed to developing work in schools.

The report paints a picture of improving standards and "consistent, sometimes rapid" improvement at the 67 schools in the Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council area.

The report said: "The Local Education Authority (LEA) has made considerable progress in promoting school improvement and our visits to schools showed that this work is effective."

The council's lead member for lifelong learning, Councillor Ian Jeffrey said: "We are delighted with the inspection report, which provides a very encouraging recognition of the LEA's considerable achievements and helpfully identifies a small number of areas for improvement."

The report underlines the authority's success in achieving standards that are "broadly in line with national averages", despite the borough's position among the ten per cent most disadvantaged LEAs in the country.

The council's director of education, Patrick Scott said: "I'm particularly pleased that Ofsted has recognised that the achievement of schools in this authority is hard won.

"We have worked hard to make sure that all children have the opportunity to achieve, whatever their background, and this report confirms we are on the right track."

The report praises the council for a "clear commitment of funding to education" and for the efficient way the money is being spent.

It says: "Support is being given effectively to schools' continually rising standards, at a reasonable cost."

The inspection team spent three weeks with the authority, reviewing all education services and found support services "generally expert and well-managed".

The council is drawing up and consulting on an action plan this term, addressing areas of weakness highlighted in the report, including arrangements for elected members to evaluate the service more effectively.

One of the borough's most difficult problems is tackling a shrinking school population, which is expected to be cut by 20 per cent over the next ten years.

The report points out that the LEA needs to improve its strategic planning of school places in order to cope with this issue.