EAST Lancashire teaching unions today responded with criticism to an annual report by the education watchdog Ofsted.

Both the National Union of Teachers and the National Association of Headteachers called the report's findings into question.

Seven East Lancashire schools were singled out for praise by Ofsted following the nationwide inspection of almost 4,000 schools last year.

Simon Jones, Blackburn with Darwen executive member of the National Union of Teachers, said: "The Ofsted report paints a picture of hard won progress and there is much to celebrate."

But he added: "It is only possible to assert that there has been a levelling off in improvement in standards if the success of the schools is measured against the Government's absurd targets that have been plucked out of the air."

And at a time when teacher recruitment is down Mr Jones felt that an inspection process could be detrimental to schools. He said: "David Bell has moved the goalposts to the detriment of teachers' motivation and morale."

David Fann, council member for Lancashire's National Association of Head Teachers, said: "Ofsted's annual report ducks the main issues.

"Test results will not improve, nor will schools deliver a broad and balanced curriculum, simply because they are exhorted so to do by the chief inspector.

"The chief inspector should admit that his new Inspection Framework, which has led to a significant increase in the number of schools in special measures and serious weakness, has raised the bar and demanded higher standards at precisely the moment that schools are struggling with poor budgets and inadequate resources."