Ofsted Chairman David Hoare quits

The chairman of Ofsted David Hoare has resigned following derogatory Isle of Wight comments.

At a teachers conference in July, David Hoare commented about the underachievement of poor white pupils on the Isle of Wight, which had prompted calls for his resignation.

He said: “Most people go there [the Isle of Wight] for sailing for two weeks a year. There's a sailing club that is one of the best in the world, where there's champagne. But just within inches, there are people who live in a ghetto ... They think of it as holiday land. But it is shocking. It's a ghetto; there has been inbreeding."

Speaking of the Island’s educational underachievement and social problems, he said: “"Seven state schools were all less than good. "There is a mass of crime, drug problems, huge unemployment."

David Hoare later said: "My intention was to highlight how concerned I am about the unacceptably poor performance of schools on the Isle of Wight over many years and how this is damaging the prospects of young people who live on the island.

"Those who know me will realise that I am passionate about improving outcomes for children from our most disadvantaged communities and my comments were made in this context."

Education Secretary Justine Greening has accepted his resignation, thanking him for his hard work.

James Kempton, a member of the Ofsted board, will take over as chairman on an interim basis.