The Conservatives predict that 25,000 children will leave the state education system when they are 16 in the next few weeks without a single qualification to their name.

It is why David Cameron and Michael Gove have looked overseas to the Swedish model to try to stop the rot.

In Sweden 900 schools have opted out of the state delivery system to become "free schools", which is five per cent of primary schools, 15 per cent secondary. More than 1,500 applications were granted last year for more schools to join the exodus.

Many of the applications for new schools are from parents battling with a council which is threatening to close down a local school. Swedish parents don't protest against school closures - they apply to open a rival school.