The chief inspector of schools has expressed concern over the 10,000 children who have vanished from classrooms and cannot be found by teachers or social workers.

David Bell highlighted the number of teenagers who cannot be traced to colleges or work and are believed to have either entered the black economy or turned to crime.

He also raised fears over a further 50,000 pupils that are registered at schools but truant every day.

Secondary schools are effectively writing off nearly one school leaver in eight, Ofsted also said yesterday.

The education watchdog claimed that schools are not offering a curriculum that engages their attention.