THE future is “bleak” for the poorest pupils at Reading's secondary schools according to Ofsted's new regional director.

The comments came after less than a quarter of students who qualify for free school meals in the borough managed to attain the benchmark grades in their GCSEs.

Following the “shocking fall” Reading Borough Council has been rapped for the second time in as many years by the education watchdog which said the slump in teenagers achieving five or more A* to C grades including English and maths was “unacceptable”.

The total number of pupils hitting the key scores in their GCSEs was 57.5 per cent last year.

For those who qualify for free school meals this dropped to 23.8 per cent - the lowest in the south east and one of the worst in the country.

In a letter addressed to the council's chief officer for education Bradley Simmons, Ofsted's south east regional director, said: "With fewer than a quarter gaining these basic qualifications upon which to build post-16, the future is bleak for these young people."

Mr Simmons added the recent downgrading of Reading Girls' School and the John Madejski Academy into special measures gave "little cause for optimism".

The damning letter sent to director of children, education and early help services Helen McMullen comes after a similar attack on the authority's record for primary education standards last February.

Mr Simmons acknowledged the council had stepped in to take action since then but added: "I am concerned that the problem has simply been transferred to the secondary phase, where pupils eligible for free school meals are being hit the hardest."

Pupils can qualify for free school meals if they or their families receive certain benefits and Ofsted assess the achievements of those students to see how well schools care for children from less advantaged backgrounds.

Of the borough's eight secondary school only two, Reading Girls' School and Blessed Hugh Faringdon, are not academies and spokesman Stephen Long said the reason for focussing their attention on the council was to encourage it to become a "champion" for young people in need.

Reading East MP Rob Wilson described the letter as a "final straw" and added: "It is a devastating indictment of the Labour run Council that these disadvantaged young people's opportunities are being destroyed and their aspirations stifled by failing schools and a failing local authority."

Councillor Tony Jones, lead member for education, said: "The Ofsted letter further strengthens the council's decision to establish a school-led improvement partnership which seeks to improve schools across the town to good or outstanding by 2018 and to significantly raise and close the gap in attainment for all at the same time.

"I would also welcome the opportunity to meet Mr Simmons to put Reading's case and to hear directly from him on what else we need to put in place to secure a better future for all the pupils in the town."