Havering schools are the worst performing in London, and one of the worst nationwide, according to an independent watchdog website which analyses Ofsted data.

Watchsted.com uses the most recent reports from Ofsted inspections to rank the performance of schools within a local authority, with Havering ranked 158 out of 163 across the country.

According to Watchsted, 29.6per cent of 74 schools which have been inspected by Ofsted recently were rated as inadequate or requiring improvement.

For secondary schools, this number rises to 43pc.

But the Watchsted league table has been disputed, with councillors, MPs and teachers claiming it is not a fair reflection of Havering’s schools.

Andrew Rosindell, MP for Romford, believes it is a case of the minority dragging the majority down.

“The figures are skewed really,” said Mr Rosindell. “There are certainly some schools that need improvement, so that will affect the overall figures.”

Watchsted uses data from Ofsted reports since 2012, when the inspection framework was altered, and the majority of schools in the borough have been visited since the change.

Cllr Robert Benham, the council’s cabinet member for children and learning, said GCSE results in the borough had risen by 4 to 5per cent, compared to a decline nationally, and believes this will see Havering shoot up the table.

“Many schools are waiting to be inspected and we anticipate that performances will improve significantly in the next round of inspections,” said Cllr Benham.

Jon Cruddas, MP for Dagenham and Rainham, called for the matter to be investigated.

“The latest set of Ofsted results in Havering, as reported by the website Watchsted, mark a cause for concern that needs to be investigated,” said the Labour MP.

“It is very important that Havering Council looks to address the issue. Working alongside local schools we should be looking to offer the highest standard of education at primary and secondary level, providing young people across the borough the best start in life.”

But Havering NUT (National Union of Teachers) secretary Ray Waxler said: “The question should be why are we putting so much value on statistics? Education isn’t about stats, it’s about human beings. You can’t assess quality.”

Due to changes in Ofsted’s framework for inspections in 2012, some schools have been omitted from the table as they await their next inspections, with Watchsted’s figures reflecting 37,215 pupils at 74 of the borough’s 94 schools.

The table shows Havering sitting alongside areas of high deprivation such as Bradford and Blackpool.