Tory free schools branded failures by education watchdogs, as A THIRD 'need improvement'

David Cameron’s flagship free schools have been branded an expensive flop as figures showed pupils were performing less well than state-funded ones.

The Government has spent more than £50million setting up the schools, which are free of local council control.

But watchdog Ofsted said primary pupils do better at core subjects in state-run schools and academies. In these, 79% of primary pupils got to Level 4 or above for the three Rs compared with 70% of free school pupils.

Ofsted figures also showed that between 2012-14 the number passing the Level 4 test rose by 4% in state schools but fell by 13% in free schools.

Of the seven primary free schools who published their results last year only one, Batley Grammar, had results better than the local authority average, the figures unearthed by Labour show.

Of 79 free schools opened under the Tories 30% have been judged by Ofsted as inadequate or requiring improvement compared with 20% of state schools.

The Government has spent £49million on the schools, plus £1million on projects which have been cancelled.

The total figure could be higher as they do not include all capital costs.

Labour accused the Tories of trying to “cover up” the failures. It pointed to how the Hartsbrook E-Act free school in Tottenham, North London, had been renamed Brook House Primary school after Ofsted round it “inadequate” in every category.

Shadow Education Secretary Tristram Hunt, said Labour would end the free schools programme.

“David Cameron’s free school programme is damaging school standards and wasting public money,” he said.

“One third have employed unqualified teachers, too many are failing their Ofsted inspections and a complete lack of local oversight is allowing under performance in these schools to go unchecked for far too long.

“We will deliver a tough new system of local oversight for all state schools, with new Directors of School Standards in all areas of the country, rooting out falling standards and challenging underperformance.”