LANCASHIRE's education bosses have been given top marks in a recent Ofsted inspection.

And the county's secondary schools rated the support level from the authority the highest of any in the country.

The inspectors' report has showered praise on the authority, particularly applauding their support for management and the raised level of literacy and numeracy in the county's schools.

Just three areas need improvement, according to the report.

And council chiefs revealed they have already made good progress in problem areas since the inspection. According to inspectors, the provision of Special Education Needs should be a priority, computer links need installing and the authority should be getting better value for money.

County councillor Hazel Harding, education and cultural services committee chairman, said: "We are very pleased with the inspectors' comments and the fact that the report has placed us in the top nine authorities in the country.

"We recognise that we have some things to do and we now want to get on with them. We already have schools linked into an Intranet using microwave technology as part of the National Grid for Learning, which wasn't in place at the time of the inspection.

"And we are looking at better ways of integrating pupils with special needs as well."

Chris Trinick, county director of education and cultural services, added: "There are many more strengths noted than weaknesses.

"We need to ensure that schools aren't too reliant on us but we have been congratulated on the standard of our teaching, and what the pupils are learning, which is our raison d'etre.

"The report has given us a very firm plan of action for the next few years."

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