Tristram Hunt MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, responding to reports of David Cameron’s pledge to open 153 new free schools, said:

“Instead of focusing on the need for more primary school places, David Cameron’s Government has spent £241 million on free schools in areas that already have enough school places.

“The result is a 200 per cent increase in the number of infants taught in classes of more than 30.

“Parents waiting for the results of their children’s primary school applications will be astonished to learn that David Cameron wants to continue funnelling money in to areas of surplus school places, via the free schools programme, rather than addressing the crisis in primary school places. Labour will target investment in new schools in areas of need, switching funds to cap infant class sizes at 30.”

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