Labour responds to the government's announcement on new school places

Bridget Phillipson MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, responding to the government’s announcement on new school places, said:

"Ensuring every child can learn in a suitable environment is the minimum we should expect, but after 12 years of Conservative governments the SEND system is broken. 

"Ministers are promising a few 'elite' opportunities to escape a post-16 system increasingly on its knees rather than delivering a plan for education in this country.

“Like Labour, the government should be focused on driving-up standards in every classroom and for every child. Right now, we would be delivering over 6,500 new teachers so every child benefits from excellent teaching and embedding digital and life skills throughout children’s learning to set them up for life.

“Just like the Conservatives’ mythical forty hospitals, there’s no plan to get these schools built or promised new places delivered. This is a government of empty promises.”