Lucy Powell MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Education, commenting on reports about the replacement for Sir Michael Wilshaw as Ofsted Chief Inspector, said:

“We should be looking to the best examples internationally to foster innovation and partnership to improve school standards but yet again from this Tory government we see an obsession with school structures and political point scoring rather than a focus on what matters most. It is the job of Ofsted to drive progress, hold schools to account for parents and help schools improve, not to pick fights with school leaders or union bash.

"The key ingredient to raising standards is enough high quality teachers in our classrooms. But as we’ve seen year after year Ministers are failing to recruit and retain enough teachers, threatening our future economic success and the prospects of young people in the global education race.”