YOUNGSTERS in Oxfordshire are being let down by Oxfordshire County Council's failures to improve schools and prepare them for work.

A damning Ofsted review has identified numerous weaknesses in the county's services for children, as today's teacher's strike affected 58 schools across Oxfordshire.

And it makes clear that the problems extend far further than the "inadequate" GCSE and A-Level results being achieved in the county's state schools.

The Audit Commission stripped County Hall of one of its highly-prized ranking stars because of the lack of progress being made in schools.

Now another Government watchdog identified a whole series of failures from careers guidance to lack of provision for young people with learning difficulties and disabilities.

Ofsted inspectors found that too many local young people were going into work without any training, with inadequate work-based learning provision.

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

County Hall's Action Plan for 14- to 19-year-olds was dismissed as insufficiently detailed, while monitoring and quality assurance processes were found to be wanting.

One Oxfordshire headteacher said the Ofsted report vindicated teaching staff, who had faced criticisms from the county's education chief about "classroom complacency".

Andrew Hamilton, head of Bartholomew Secondary School, Eynsham, said: "This reaffirms that the last set of criticism was limited in range and part of a specific agenda, based on deflecting criticism from the council itself.

"It was too simplistic and one dimensional. The Ofsted report show the problems are due to a whole range of complex issues that cannot just be laid at the door of schools."

The all-embracing report also covers health issues, highlighting Oxfordshire's "high teenage pregnancy rates" and slow progress towards bringing about reductions. On child protection the report finds arrangements for agencies to collaborate to safeguard children in Oxfordshire are inadequate.

The county's new director for children, Janet Tomlinson, said: "This report looks at children's services across the board. It looks at every organisation in Oxfordshire that provides children's services including schools, health, police and children's organisations. It confirms what we already know."

She said measures had already been taken to improve provision for post-16s with learning difficulties.

And moves to address the county's "inadequate" GCSE and A-Level results were being advanced, including the appointment of "superheads" brought in from outside the county.

Ms Tomlinson said improving GSCE results was a joint responsibility with schools, who could not escape some blame. "We accept that we need to improve the support that we provide to help them raise their game. I will personally not rest until that has been achieved."

Louise Chapman, the county's cabinet member for children said: "We have every reason to be optimistic. Reviews of our services show a consistent recognition that we have structures in place to deliver yet more progress."

But the opposition parties stepped up the pressure on the ruling Tory group. Labour group leader Liz Brighouse said: "The Tories fought the 2005 county council elections on a promise of better exam results. Yet their record on educational achievement has been appalling."

Jean Fooks, for the Lib Dems, said: "Oxfordshire's exam results were worse than those in comparable counties. It is a pity that this has not been given the priority it needed.

"Schools regularly tell us that they need more help with behaviour problems and I very much hope that this will now be available."