Tristram Hunt MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, in response to tomorrow’s government announcement on standards and schools oversight, said:

“The events in Birmingham have exposed David Cameron’s government’s failure to deliver effective oversight of our schools. This government’s failure has meant school standards suffer.

“I have announced that Labour will introduce new local Directors of School Standards to provide rigorous oversight of all state schools, spotting and acting on problems before it is too late. But ministers have refused to take action throughout the entirety of this Parliament.

“On the issue of teacher quality, the government has changed the rules to allow unqualified teachers into the classroom. Labour will end this damaging policy, focusing on delivering highly qualified teachers in every classroom.

“Ministers are now trying to play catch-up but the public will see that it is this government’s damaging schools policy that has failed pupils.”