THE majority of Worcestershire's schools inspected last year were good or outstanding, according to latest figures released by Ofsted.

The Education watchdog revealed 87 per cent of the county's schools were ranked as good or outstanding in the last quarter of 2013.

Out of the 236 schools inspected in that quarter, 38 (16 per cent) were outstanding and 168 (71 per cent) were good.

There were 26 schools (11 per cent) that required improvement and four schools (two per cent) that were inadequate.

The previous figures, released in August 2013, showed 15 per cent were found to be outstanding and 68 per cent were good, while 15 per cent were satisfactory (the old ranking) and two per cent inadequate.

The data puts Worcestershire joint second with Gloucestershire in a comparison of similar local authorities.

Wiltshire, Leicestershire and Hampshire trailed just behind while Dorset was the only local authority ahead.