Over-full classrooms are Cameron's fault, says Tristram Hunt

http://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/aug/18/classrooms-over-full-david-cameron-tristram-hunt

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David Cameron is to blame for a huge growth in the number of over-filled classrooms, with up to 70 pupils being taught together in some schools, after the government diverted scarce resources to its free schools "pet project", Labour will claim on Monday.

Tristram Hunt, the shadow education secretary, will say that parents face a choice at the next election between the prospect of "ever more children crammed into large class sizes" under the Tories or a Labour government that would target resources on areas of need by ending the free schools programme.

In a speech on education ahead of the publication of GCSE results later this week, Hunt will highlight figures that show a 200% increase in the number of infants taught in classes with more than 30 pupils since 2010. This has increased from 31,265 pupils in January 2010 to 93,665 in January this year.

Hunt will say that Department for Education figures show that 40,000 primary school children are being taught in classes of more than 36 pupils. More than a third of these are being taught in classes of over 40; 5,817 are in classes of over 50; 2,556 are in classes of over 60 and 446 are in classes of over 70.

Labour will claim that if the trend continued until 2020, nearly half a million infants – 450,000 or a quarter of the total – would be taught in classrooms of more than 30 pupils.

The shadow education secretary will say the prime minister and his former education secretary, Michael Gove, have reneged on their 2010 election manifesto to deliver "small schools with smaller class sizes".

Hunt will blame the Tories' failure to deliver their manifesto pledge on Gove's free school programme, which diverted resources from areas of need.

Hunt will say: "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. The choice on education is clear: the threat of ever more children crammed into large class sizes under the Tories or a Labour future where we transform standards with a qualified teacher in every classroom and action on class sizes."

Hunt will dismiss the appointment of Nicky Morgan in the recent cabinet reshuffle as Cameron moved to end the Tories' toxic relations with the teaching profession. Hunt will describe Morgan as "continuity Gove" after she pledged to press on with her predecessor's reforms.

"David Cameron may have locked Michael Gove away in the attic because he has been told by Lynton Crosby that he is scaring the voters," Hunt will say. "But be in no doubt that the dangerous experiments with our children's education continue in the basement. Nicky Morgan has declared she wants to be continuity Gove – she is on autopilot."

Morgan hit back at Hunt's criticism last night on the size of classrooms. The education secretary said: "Tristram Hunt seems to have forgotten that it was Labour who cut 200,000 primary school places in the middle of a baby boom – at the same time as letting immigration get out of control. As part of our long-term economic plan, the difficult decisions we've taken have meant we've been able to double the funding to local authorities for school places to £5bn, creating 260,000 new places.

"But Labour haven't learnt their lesson. Their policy of not trusting headteachers would create more bureaucrats, meaning more resources are spent on paperwork – not places. Children would have a worse future under Labour."

Hunt has said that he will end the Tories' "ideological experiment" with free schools. He would still allow parents to establish new schools, to be called parent-led academies. But these would be in areas where there is a shortage of spaces. Successful free schools established under the Tories would be allowed to continue.

The shadow education secretary will say: "The choice at the next election is between higher standards and a better future for our children and young people, or more of the same from the Tories, who have damaged standards with the wrong priorities on education, allowing unqualified teachers in classrooms on a permanent basis, and completely failing to deliver for all young people.

"Labour will transform standards with reforms that will deliver a world class teacher in every classroom, the right priorities for planning school places and local oversight of schools, and with high quality technical and vocational education at the heart of our plans to transform education and maximise the talents of all young people, so that all are able to play their part in renewing Britain."