SCHOOLS across Wales have been criticised for their quality of teaching in a annual report by Estyn’s chief inspector.

The report, released today, reveals that the quality of teaching is the weakest aspect of provision across most areas of Wales.

This includes “too few schools” helping staff to “make the best of professional learning opportunities”.

The report also criticises the lack of “routine evaluation” to see whether activities could result in improvements for learners.

The report recommended that “leaders should create better opportunities for teachers to develop their professional skills”.

Chief Inspector for Estyn, Meilyr Rowlands, said: “What needs to be done to raise standards in education in Wales is becoming clearer and improving teaching will have a long-term effect on quality and standards in the classroom.

“The best teachers have high expectations, challenge their pupils, and think critically about their own practice.

“Leaders in education need to have a strong focus on providing suitable opportunities for the professional development of staff at all levels in order to nurture confident and creative teaching and learning."

He added: “It is by continuing to improve professional learning and school-to-school collaboration that we can drive out the variability that still exists in our education system.”

Additional findings in the report from 2015-16 inspections included standards being “good or better” in around seven-in-ten primary schools inspected in this time period.

This included improvements in pupil literacy and numeracy skills being “good or better” in seven-in-ten primary schools.

Secondary schools were noted as having “greater variability” than primary schools, with “more excellence but also more unsatisfactory practice”.

Teaching was noted as being “good or better” in only a minority of inspected secondary schools with leadership and management being “good or better” in around half of all inspected schools.

Estyn is the Education and Training Inspectorate for Wales. It's independent from, but funded by,  the Welsh Assembly Government.

View the full report.