MORE than 80 per cent of schools across Hampshire were rated as “outstanding” or “good” at the end of 2014, according to new figures.

The figures, released by the Department for Education, show that 22 per cent of schools (114) across the county were rated as “outstanding”, with a further 59 per cent (309 schools) graded as “good” by the education watchdog, Ofsted between October 1 and December 31 last year.

The number of “outstanding” schools remained at the same as the previous period, which ran between July 1 and September 30.

However, the number of schools graded as “good” decreased slightly with 61 per cent (318 schools) awarded a “good” rating between July and September.

Between October and December, 17 per cent (88 schools) were told that they required improvement and two per cent (14 schools) were graded as inadequate.

The new figures show that the number of schools that require improvement has increased by two per cent from 15 per cent (82 schools) between July and September and the number of schools graded as “inadequate” has remained at two per cent (10 schools) from the previous period.

Hampshire County Council’s executive member for education, Councillor Peter Edgar, said the figures "reflect the continuing good work" of everyone in Hampshire schools, including teachers, support staff and governors.

He added: "We are proud of our role as a local education authority and to work in partnership with our family of schools for the benefit of the county’s children. I would suggest that this partnership approach is a significant contributing factor in the high quality of education being provided.

"Over 170,000 children and young people are taught in Hampshire schools and, as the Department for Education figures indicate, 81 per cent of those pupils attend a good or outstanding school."

Cllr Edgar added: "We use our powers to bring about improvement, through challenge, support and intervention. County council maintained schools, that are judged by Ofsted to be inadequate or requiring improvement are given additional specialist support from the county council’s school improvement officers who will work with the governing body and headteacher to develop and implement a tightly timed action plan for rapid improvement and to move the school out of category."