SHORTCOMINGS in primary education in Dorset have been highlighted in Ofsted's annual report.

It revealed that the number of children attending good or outstanding schools in Dorset is among the lowest in the country and many pupils are not meeting standards in writing or maths.

The report looks at the percentage of children attending schools that have been rated as good or outstanding.

For primary schools, of the 15 local authorities in the South West, Dorset has the second lowest percentage of children at good or outstanding schools.

This puts Dorset at 112 of 150 local authorities nationally.

The report also found that at primary level Dorset has the lowest proportion of pupils meeting expected standards in maths at 68 percent, and the joint lowest in writing with Gloucestershire at 61 percent.

It also found that provisional results in 2016 show only 43 percent of pupils in Dorset reached the new expected standard in key stage two reading, writing and mathematics.

This is the lowest in the South West and well below the 52 percent average nationally.

In 2015, pupils eligible for free school meals had attainment below the national level at every key stage in Dorset.

However for secondary schools Dorset comes in at third in the South West and 17th nationally for the number of pupils attending good or outstanding establishments.

Ninety-eight percent of secondary pupils are at good or outstanding schools, up five percent on 2014/15.

Not a single primary or secondary school inspected during 2015/16 by Ofsted was given the top outstanding rating in Dorset.

Bradley Simmons, Ofsted's South West regional director, said: "We are determined that the South West should deliver the best education to pupils and pupils at greatest risk of underachieving. It is not right that these children are not getting the education they deserve.

"Schools are given additional funding to help disadvantaged children, so there are no excuses."

Jackie Groves, senior manager of educational services at Dorset County Council, said the council was pleased the percentage of children at the best schools continues to rise.

She said: "Secondary schools were already performing well, but have now risen by a further five per cent. This means an exceptionally high 97 per cent of pupils in Dorset are in good and outstanding secondary schools, which is well above the national average.

"The number of Dorset children in good and outstanding primary schools has also risen by 9 per cent in the last year to 87 per cent and we will continue working hard to improve this further.

"We are always targeting areas where we can make further improvements and will continue to seek the very best outcomes for all Dorset children.”