'Super teacher' hit squads for schools Top class VOW

Starmer's pledge to help children & staff in struggling areas | Super-teachers to fix poor schools | Stopping staff exodus is priority

- JOHN STEVENS

SQUADS of "super teachers" will be deployed to rescue schools battered by more than a decade of Tory rule if Labour wins power.

Keir Starmer is to target poorer areas where pupils struggle more. Labour's Bridget Phillipson said: "We believe excellence is for everyone." 

WITH schools struggling after 13 years of Tory neglect and fed-up staff quitting in their droves, many pupils are being left behind when it comes to a decent education.

But Keir Starmer has vowed to tackle the problem with squads of "super teachers", under plans to be unveiled this week.

They will target poorer areas as figures show children from those backgrounds are almost twice as likely to go to an inadequate school, which can hinder opportunities when they leave.

Labour wants to overhaul school inspections with detailed "report cards" replacing short judgments such as "good" or "requires improvement".

Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson last night told how regional teams will be sent to work with teachers in underperforming schools.