Tristram Hunt MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, following the publication of David Blunkett’s report, said:

“David’s record on raising school standards speaks for itself. This is an incredibly important report. 

“Under Michael Gove schools are being left to ‘sink or swim’ – more than 1.5m children are in underperforming schools. That’s why Labour will introduce new and robust local oversight of all schools to raise standards. That’s what new Directors of School Standards will bring. 

“Labour will spread the success of our ‘London Challenge’ programme which transformed London’s secondary schools from being the worst to the best performing in the space of a decade - Labour will deliver this focus on standards across the country.”