'More can go to high-quality schools' says Michael Gove

The UK needs new schools and the government is making sure that more money goes into education rather than school buildings, according to the education secretary.

Michael Gove defended free schools to BBC Breakfast and said that it would now be easier to get rid of under-performing teachers.

Free schools, a flagship government policy, are state-funded but not under local authority control and have more control over teaching and budgets.

Fifty-five new ones are opening this month, tripling the number in place across England, ministers say.

Free schools can be set up by groups of parents, teachers, charities, businesses, universities, trusts, religious or voluntary groups.