SCHOOLS across Tendring have been praised for making major improvements over the past year.

Some of the area’s schools were heavily criticised in Ofsted’s regional report, released at the end of last year.

The education watchdog’s league tables showed more than 60 per cent of schools in the Clacton constituency were “less than good” – the worst rate in the East of England.

Headteachers later hit back at the accusation.

A group called the Tendring Locality Board now says standards are improving, based on observations over the past two years.

It is made up of district and county councillors and was formed to make the councils work together to help drive up standards.

Results from last year showed the number of schools rated good or outstanding by Ofsted had risen from 49 per cent in 2012/13 to 54 per cent now.

Primary school results have also leapt from 61 per cent in 2012 to 73 per cent.

Ray Gooding, Essex County Council’s cabinet member responsible for education, said: “It is great to see schools and teachers in Clacton are doing so well.

“To see that over half are now rated good or outstanding is fantastic news.

“However, we are not complacent and will continue to strive for further improvements in Tendring and Essex as a whole.”