Thousands of Norfolk children denied 'decent education' Published duration 24 July 2013

image caption Sir Michael Wilshaw said Norfolk's school system was "mediocre and complacent"

Tens of thousands of children have been denied a "decent education" by Norfolk County Council, the chief inspector of Ofsted has said.

"[The council] for far too long has presided over a mediocre and complacent school system," Sir Michael said.

The council has pledged to improve standards.

It was the first authority to be visited by inspectors as part of a new bid to improve state schools and was chosen due to concerns about the "poor quality of education" being offered.

Inspectors found the council had taken too long to challenge weak schools, which had led to a "legacy of underachievement".

Ofsted has previously said that the proportion of good or better primary schools in Norfolk is in the bottom 10% of all local authorities, and secondary schools are in the bottom 15%.