Tristram Hunt MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, responding to the publication by Ofsted of ‘The most able students’, said:

“For Britain to succeed, we need to make the most of the talents of all of our young people. But young people, especially those from low and middle income backgrounds, are all too often not given the challenge and support that they need to fulfil their potential.

“David Cameron’s government has no strategy for supporting schools to nurture their most able pupils. International research shows we perform badly in helping the most gifted pupils. We’re going to do something about that. Labour will establish a Gifted and Talented Fund to equip schools with the most effective strategies for stretching their most able pupils.

“The Tory plan is letting down the next generation and failing working families because it doesn’t put them first. Britain only succeeds when working families succeed. Labour has a better plan for a better future.”