In May 2010, when I was still Labour MP for Hendon, there were no infant schoolchildren in Barnet learning in oversized classes. New figures show there are now 1,343 Barnet infant schoolchildren sitting in overcrowded classrooms of more than 30 pupils, at a time that is vital to their future development and progress. Barnet children are paying the price of the Conservatives’ dogma.

Before the general election, David Cameron and Barnet’s Conservative MPs promised “small schools with smaller class sizes”. This is yet another broken promise from them.

The answer is not yet more of Michael Gove’s lottery for free schools, which mushroom in places where they are not required, use unqualified people as teachers and are so popular with Barnet Conservatives, but proper forward planning and co-ordination to ensure that new schools and classrooms go where they are needed. After all, the council know how roughly many children they must find places for four years ahead, from the birth registrations for which they are in charge. If I am elected as MP for Hendon next year, I will work with the next Labour Government to prioritise new school places where they are needed, to have rigorous local oversight of schools and to ensure that all teachers have or are working towards qualified teacher status.

Andrew Dismore

Labour London Assembly Member and Parliamentary candidate for Hendon