Lucy Powell MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Education, commenting on Ofsted’s Annual Report, said:

“The Government is failing to challenge the regional divide in school standards, so children in the North and Midlands are again being left behind. Whilst there are many examples of great practice in our schools system, too many children are still not receiving a good enough education. At the same time, the Tories are creating chronic shortages of teachers up and down the country, threatening standards as schools are forced to plug gaps with unqualified staff and larger class sizes.

“Britain’s future success depends upon making sure every child has an excellent education and that every young person has the opportunity to fulfil their potential. This report is yet more evidence that the Government’s narrow and backward-looking education policies are simply not up to that task.”