Tristram Hunt MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, responding to Ofsted’s verdict on E-ACT academy chain, said:

“By encouraging some academy chains to expand beyond their capacity, Michael Gove has allowed underperformance to go unchecked.

“Now we see a desperate attempt by Ministers to try to create the perception that they are on top of things. This is not the case.

“Michael Gove should give Ofsted the formal powers to inspect academy chains, in the same way he did for local authorities.”