Isle of Wight children are 'INBRED' Ofsted boss in shocking rant is forced to apologise
THE boss of Britain's education watchdog has been forced to issue a grovelling apology today after describing children in one part of England as "inbred".
Ofsted boss David Hoare in deep water over his remarks about Isle of Wight
Ofsted chief David Hoare branded the Isle of Wight a "poor ghetto suffering from inbreeding" in a blistering rant on school standards.
The taxpayer funded schools supremo made the extraordinary slur during a teaching conference, sparking outrage throughout the popular holiday destination.
Mr Hoare told delegates: "Most people go there for sailing for two weeks a year. There's a sailing club that is one of the best in the world, where there's champagne."
Cowes on the Isle of Wight
They think of it as holiday land. But it is shocking. It's a ghetto. There has been inbreeding
He continued: "But just within inches, there are people who live in a ghetto and we've allowed it to happen.
"They think of it as holiday land. But it is shocking. It's a ghetto. There has been inbreeding."
Appalled islanders branded the comments "insulting", "truly offensive" and "out of touch" with some calling for Mr Hoare to resign.
Ofsted chairman David Hoare
The former city banker issued an apology in which he claimed he was trying to highlight poor education on the island.
He said: "I apologise for any upset or offence that I may have caused by the comments I made about the Isle of Wight at the recent Teach First conference.
"My intention was to highlight how concerned I am about the unacceptably poor performance of schools on the Isle of Wight over many years and how this is damaging the prospects of young people who live on the island.
"Those who know me will realise that I am passionate about improving outcomes for children from our most disadvantaged communities and my comments were made in this context."
Shoppers in Cowes on the Isle of Wight
But the apology did not go far enough for Isle of Wight council leader Jonathan Bacon, who said he would contact Secretary of State for Education Justine Greening about the comments.
He said: "David Hoare's comments about 'inbreeding' and 'ghettos' on the Isle of Wight are truly offensive to the people of the Isle of Wight and bear no relation to the facts.
"It is deeply disappointing that such a senior figure has made such offensive and un-evidenced comments, and I will be asking the Secretary of State for Education to ask Mr Hoare to account for his comments at the earliest opportunity.
"It would be refreshing if the Ofsted chairman was able to make a positive contribution to improving education on the Isle of Wight rather than making facile and offensive comments."
The Isle of Wight ferry
Isle of Wight secondary school teacher Vix Lowthion also called for Mr Hoare to resign.
She said: "I am absolutely appalled that the chairman of Ofsted thinks it helpful, truthful or professional to describe our families and young people in that way."
An Ofsted spokesman said: "The chairman was expressing his personal views. They do not reflect the views of Ofsted or the Chief Inspector."