Tristram Hunt MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, responding to the Ofsted report published today on Durham Free School said:

“Michael Gove said Durham Free School would raise standards and would add to the quality of education in Durham – in reality it has done the exact opposite. David Cameron’s failing Free School programme is damaging school standards – too many are failing their Ofsted inspections, one third have employed unqualified teachers and a complete lack of local oversight is allowing underperformance in these schools to go unchecked for far too long.

“Labour would end the flawed Free Schools programme and reverse David Cameron’s decision to allow unqualified teachers in our schools. We will deliver a tough new system of local oversight for all state schools, with new Directors of School Standards in all areas of the country, rooting out falling standards and challenging underperformance.”