Inspectors have praised the standard of education being given to pupils in the Bath and North East Somerset area but said there is still room for improvement.

A report from the Government's Ofsted inspectors said B&NES education authority was performing well and was improving, but has a few areas of major weakness.

Use of information and communications technology in the curriculum was found to be weak, as in many areas nationally, and the authority's support over matters to do with school buildings was also found to have weaknesses.

Marie Getheridge, chair of the B&NES headteachers' group, said the report was a fair picture of the authority's performance.

She said: "The partnership that exists amongst officers, members of the education committee and headteachers is proving to have positive results for all children within the area.

"We are aware that there are some aspects of the service which require attention but I am confident that these issues will be addressed in future."

Four Ofsted inspectors and one Audit Commission inspector carried out the review between January and June 2000.

All 87 schools in B&NES replied to a written survey and 19 schools were visited.

Interviews were also carried out with council officers, councillors, parents, governors and members of the community.