Tristram Hunt MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, responding to the closure of David Cameron’s flagship Discovery Free School, said:

“The closure of this Free School is yet another shocking example of why David Cameron’s flagship schools policy is failing. This Government promised that the Free Schools programme would bring the rise in education standards we need, but instead, as the NAO reported this week, it has led to a huge waste of public money and poor standards and now ministers are having to close one down. Discovery Free School is not the first Free School that has had to close, with the Al-Madinah Free School in Derby having been temporarily closed.

“In his terrible rush to roll out the Free School programme, David Cameron has abandoned high standards and basic safeguards - and the pupils at the Discovery Free School have paid the price. David Cameron is damaging standards by allowing Free Schools to operate under a complete lack of local oversight, transparency and accountability and by allowing them to hire unqualified teachers.

“Labour will ensure high standards in all schools, with properly qualified teachers, rigorous local oversight of standards and effective collaboration between schools to improve performance.”