THE blistering attack by an East Lancashire head teacher today on the Oftsed school inspection system may seem all the more credible because it comes just as his school receives a glowing report from the standards watchdog.

But despite some validity in the criticism by Mr Clive Taylor, of Rossendale's Waterfoot Primary, what cannot be dismissed is that the Ofsted scrutiny is ultimately designed to raise all schools to the level of his -- through openness and accountability to parents who, quite rightly, expect the best for their children and who are funding an education system that does not always deliver it.

It may be that the extent to which the inspections go is sometimes needlessly intensive -- so that the stress they place upon teachers may go beyond reasonable levels.

But Mr Taylor seems to disregard the salutary aspect of the system overall when he says that the 'naming and shaming' policy of identifying under-achieving schools is unnecessary and unprofessional. Such criticism, he feels, should be done privately.

This may be all very well as far as sparing the feelings and pride of teaching staff who have suffered a bad Ofsted report, but it ignores the responsibility they have as public employees to be seen to be delivering the goods.

Sparing the blushes of the less-able is not, nor should be, Oftsed's criterion. The aim is to raise standards.