Labour's shadow education secretary called Falmouth School a "classic example of a lack of accountability" whilst visiting Cornwall today.

Angela Rayner, MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, visited Falmouth today to speak to local parents and teachers about the issues they have faced with the school, which recently received an inadequate Ofsted report criticising its leadership.

In an exclusive interview with the Packet at Falmouth Town Council's offices, she said: "I think Falmouth School is an absolutely classic example of a lack of accountability.

"Parents and the community feel frustrated because they have had an inadequate Ofsted and they're unable to hold the school to account.

"I think that's unfair inherently and it's left parents feeling anxious."

Mrs Rayner claims that the Conservative government's widespread introduction of free schools and academies has had a negative impact on the country's most vulnerable students.

She said: "We don't need competition in our school system, we need collaboration and excellence."

She criticised Falmouth School's practice of 'off-rolling' (unofficially removing students from the school) – a point which was also raised in May's Ofsted report.

Mrs Rayner also commented on the disparity in pay in both universities and schools.

Falmouth School's CEO and head was given a pay rise of at least £30,000 despite the school's leadership being rated inadequate, and Sir Steve Smith, chancellor of the University of Exeter, which has a campus in Penryn, was offered bonuses of nearly £400,000 earlier this year.

She said: "It's absolutely obscene when you get the lowest paid members of staff using food banks.

"If you have accountability in universities and school that pay ratio is improved. Make sure, not what your university can do for you, but what can it do to support your society?

"It's about working within the current local community to make sure that every young person gets the benefit from that knowledge."

On transport issues for students and workers in rural areas, she said: "It's disastrous for the economy. People should be angry here," going on to say that a Labour government would invest in connectivity.

When the Packet originally reported on Sir Steve Smith's offers of a massive payout in January, a university spokesperson said that if given; "they will reflect the Vice-Chancellor’s commitment and outstanding performance against challenging targets over a long period of time".

Likewise, a spokesperson for Falmouth School defended CEO Brett Miners' pay rise by saying: "All salaries within Falmouth MAT are benchmarked against both national and local positions of similar responsibilities.

"In addition to benchmarking the governors also take advice from external, independent consultants when setting all salaries.

"The new role of CEO of Falmouth MAT was combined with that of Headteacher of Falmouth School and this represents an increase in responsibility which was also benchmarked against similar roles both locally and nationally.”

Earlier in the day Mrs Rayner met with postal workers at the town's delivery office.