Tristram Hunt MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, responding to today’s primary school results said:

“It is very encouraging to see that primary schools are continuing to make progress, in line with the steady improvements made over the past twenty years.

“But under David Cameron’s Government we have a schools policy that puts these gains at risk. His Government has signed off on allowing unqualified teachers to work in our classrooms on a permanent basis. For three consecutive years teacher recruitment targets have being missed. This is storing up trouble for the future.

“We have big challenges in our school system, not least that 170,000 pupils are now in inadequate secondary schools. For those pupils making their way from primary to secondary, it is not the rosy picture that ministers are trying to present. There is no room for complacency.

“Labour will end the damage that has been done to teaching standards. We will ensure that all classroom teachers are qualified, update their subject knowledge and skills as a condition of remaining in the classroom and create new high status career routes so that the teaching profession continues to improve for the benefit of all children in all schools.”