Tristram Hunt MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, responding to warnings on class sizes, said:

“David Cameron made a commitment to parents, of smaller schools and smaller class sizes.

“But the number of five to seven year olds in large classes of over 30 children has spiralled by 200 per cent since 2010 – to nearly 100,000 infants.

“By diverting resources away from areas in desperate need of more primary school places in favour of pursuing his pet project of expensive Free Schools in areas where there is no shortage of places, David Cameron has created classes of more than 40, 50, 60 and even 70 pupils.

“Labour will end the Free Schools programme and instead focus spending on areas in need of extra school places.”

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