Gove: Parents deserting state schools underlines need for more good places

Commenting on Government figures showing that growing numbers of parents are abandoning state schools in favour of independent schools, Shadow Children's Minister Michael Gove said:

“These figures underline the need for more good school places, especially in the inner cities and areas of deprivation. David Cameron outlined this week in Manchester how a Conservative Government would make more good school places available so we can close the worrying gap between the most fortunate and the most disadvantaged in Britain.

“Closing that attainment gap and making opportunity more equal crucially requires a relentless focus on the basics and spreading best practice from the top-performing schools across the rest of the system. It is nothing short of a tragedy that half of eleven year olds leave primary school unable to read, write and count properly.â€