Barry Rawlings

Barnet councillor Barry Rawlings, Labour spokesman for education and children, welcomed the report.

He said: "These targets of getting 30 per cent have been known for a number of years, so one has to ask if these schools have been getting enough support from the local authorities.

But councillor Barry Rawlings, Labour spokesman for education and children, said that figures had improved over the past ten years.He added that Hendon's high percentage was "no surprise" because of its social make-up and the number of children who live there.

He said: "Being on benefits does not make you a bad parent.

Labour education spokesman, Barry Rawlings, said: "Selling school playing fields when children already don't get enough exercise, and there are fears about childhood obesity, is very worrying."

But Councillor John Marshall, cabinet member for education, said the land needed to be sold to fund a better education for children.

"It's just scaremongering," he said.

Labour's education spokesman Barry Rawlings said: "Ofsted may come back again later but the kids in schools don't get that second chance."

Barry Rawlings, Labour's education and children spokesman, said: "The council claims it is building thousands of new homes but most of these are new flats simply to replace those demolished as part of the estate regeneration projects.