The overall picture for the nation’s 3,078 secondary schools shows that 23 per cent are currently judged outstanding, while 49 per cent are rated as good.
A further 23 per cent of secondaries are considered to be requiring improvement, while five per cent are “inadequate”.
The latest snapshot of Ofsted inspection outcomes has shown that 79 per cent of all schools, including primary, special and pupil referral units, are currently judged good or better.
England’s inspectorate releases regular statistical bulletins summarising recent inspections and updating the national picture of inspection outcomes. The latest set of figures covers October to December 2013, during which time 2,041 inspections were carried out.
The figures show that 60 per cent of schools judged during this period were considered to be good or better, with 35 per cent requiring improvement and five per cent inadequate.
Overall this led to a one per cent increase in the number of schools nationally judged to be good or better – from 78 to 79 per cent.
The mismatch between the national figures and those from the three-month period is down to the fact that school inspection naturally focuses more frequently on schools that require improvement or have been rated inadequate.
Ofsted reports that 27 per cent of the schools inspected during the three months had improved on their previous inspection judgement.
The findings also show that among the 349 secondary schools inspected during the three-month period, 51 per cent were judged to be good or better, with 38 per cent requiring improvement and 11 per cent inadequate.
The National Association of Head Teachers said the inspection results were “remarkable”. General secretary Russell Hobby said: “The fact that so many of our schools are doing well in their inspections is remarkable given the many burdens being placed on them by so much change. There are few sectors where you would see such a high proportion of excellence.”