Opposition members have accused Kingston Council leader Liz Green of playing party politics with Knollmead Primary School, after she criticised the Government's education policy.

The Liberal Democrat leader told the Surrey Comet she thought Education Secretary Michael Gove was wrong to force under performing primary schools into partnerships with Academy schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

She was speaking after Knollmead, in Tolworth, was rated inadequate by Ofsted following an inspection held in July.

But Conservative deputy leader David Cunningham, opposition member for schools, branded coun Green's remarks "cheap".

He said: “It is not at all helpful for the leader of the council to make cheap political carping points, to rubbish the proposals for Knollmead School to receive help from one of the borough’s outstanding academies.

“Pupils and parents of Knollmead are rightly concerned that an improvement of the school should progress as soon as possible and Kingston needs strong leadership to achieve this.

“It is anticipated that formal approval of the academy sponsor will be completed by the end of next week and provide the local solution.”

The outstanding academy that will be partnering Knollmead has not yet been officially announced, but is widely understood to be the Coombe Schools Federation.

This week Knollmead head teacher Emma Kelty, who joined the school in September, said she believed the school could achieve outstanding, the highest grade, when inspectors return in a year.