OXFORDSHIRE County Council has been accused of letting down Oxfordshire's youngsters after a Government watchdog labelled its care for teenagers as not good enough.

A review of Oxfordshire County Council's children's services by Ofsted inspectors classed provision for young people aged 14-19 as inadequate and said progress on recommendations made five years ago had been slow.

The inspectors identified a series of weaknesses, ranging from poor GCSE results through to a lack of provision for over-16s with learning difficulties and disabilities.

The careers education young people receive was called into question, with inspectors saying there had been insufficient progress in providing full and impartial information.

The inspection also concluded there were too many young people in employment without training and there was insufficient work-based learning.

The inspectors' report stated: "Progress since 2003 has been slow; 14-19 provision across the county is not yet sufficiently coherent or consistent."

It went on: "Educational results show overall improvement, but there are still significant areas of underperformance."

Earlier this year the county council was demoted by the Audit Commission from four-star status to three-star because of inspectors' concerns about educational achievement and child protection.

Janet Tomlinson, director for children, young people and families at Oxfordshire County Council, said: "We agree with the inspectors. Oxfordshire's school exam results, while improving slowly, should be better.

"I will personally not rest until that has been achieved."

She said the inspectors had "quite rightly drawn attention to a lot of good, solid achievement", but added: "We know very well that we have improvements to make and there was nothing in the report that we had not already started planning for."

Councillor Louise Chapman, the county council's cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: "We have every reason to be optimistic.

"Reviews of our services show a consistent recognition that we have the structures in place to deliver more progress."

But county councillor Liz Brighouse, leader of the Labour group, said: "The Conservative administration at County Hall must take responsibility for the failures in the county's children services."