Tristram Hunt MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, responding to the announced closure of the Al-Madinah secondary Free School.

“This is more evidence that David Cameron’s Free School programme is damaging education standards in this country. Ofsted judged that Al-Madinah, one of the Prime Minister’s flagship Free Schools, is completely dysfunctional.

“It has come to symbolise everything that is wrong with the Free School programme: unqualified teachers in the classroom and a complete lack of local oversight of these schools.

“Despite the continuing evidence that this programme is damaging standards, the Tory-led government is happy to plough on.”