Overhaul vow on school admissions

The shadow education secretary also suggested that councils will be given powers to order academies and free schools to raise their game, in a bid to tackle under-performance early.

In a speech, Mr Twigg set out Labour’s plans for raising standards, saying he wanted parents and communities to have a greater say on new schools.

He said local councils should be the “champion” of parents and children in all schools. “I am clear that local authorities should be able to issue early warning notices to academies and free schools, in the same way as they can for maintained schools, so under-performance is challenged early.”

Currently it is down to the Education Secretary and his department to issue warning notices to these schools, instructing them to improve or face intervention.

Mr Twigg also said Labour intended to overhaul the school admissions system, to make it easier for parents to appeal, and for children to find places.