OFSTED is ditching 1,200 school and college inspectors after assessing them as not good enough to judge schools.

The move by England’s education inspectorate is part of its plan to improve quality and consistency, and bring inspections in-house.

Ofsted had been using about 3,000 additional inspectors, contracted through inspection service providers.

Teachers have long complained about inspection quality, but Ofsted insists it does not mean it is substandard.

Speaking to the Times Educational Supplement, Sir Robin Bosher, Ofsted’s head of quality and training, said the organisation wanted to have high quality inspectors.

He said: “I am committed to making sure that my colleagues in headship can be assured they have a good inspector walking up the path. I’m determined that will happen.”

But National Association of Head Teachers general secretary Russell Hobby said: “You look back and say, for the last few years we’ve been inspected by a group where 40% weren’t up to the job.

“If Sir Michael Wilshaw had done this from the start, we would have avoided everything that has followed.