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Speaking at the opening of one of the first new free schools, David Cameron focused on confronting educational failure “head-on” to attain a first-class education for every child.

“We want to create an education system based on real excellence, with a complete intolerance of failure,” the Prime Minister said at the opening of Norwich Free School

Acknowledging that his plans were “ambitious,” he insisted they are imperative to compete in a world where China is going through an “educational renaissance”, and India “churning out science graduates,” adding that any “complacency” would be “completely fatal to our economic prospects”.

A recent report published by the World Economic Forum revealed that UK schools lag behind countries such as Bosnia, Iran and Trinidad and Tobago, in maths and science education, ranking in 43rd place.

Tory MP Chris Skidmore blamed the disappointing figures on Labour’s failed policies.

Despite doling out £71billion on education and pledging to prioritise ‘education, education, education’, the rankings have only moved up by four notches from 47th place in 2008.

“Labour failed to grasp the importance of maths and science education to our future prosperity. Now the Government is attracting the best teachers, changing the system so pupils have to keep taking maths until they pass and encouraging more of them to take science GCSEs,” Mr Skidmore said.

“We are bringing to a close the wrong-headed methods that have failed thousands of children, and we are making sure every school has the resources and every teacher the training to deliver effective synthetic phonics teaching in the classroom.  That is the method that is proven to work and that is how we can eliminate illiteracy in our country,” the Prime Minister declared.

Mr Cameron assured that the debate on how to achieve high standards was over, stating that discipline, rigour, freedom for schools and high expectations are the solutions and have to be acted upon immediately, considering that “every year that passes without proper reform is another year that tens of thousands of teenagers leave school without the qualifications they need.”

“We've got to get on with it – and we don't have any time to lose. So there are three bold things we're doing. One: ramping up standards, bringing back the values of a good education.

“Two: changing the structure of education, allowing new providers in to start schools, and giving schools greater independence. And three: confronting educational failure head-on.”

The Prime Minister also insisted that parents should be held accountable for children who continually act out of line and should face “real consequences”.

“We need parents to have a real stake in the discipline of their children, to face real consequences if their children continually misbehave.

“That's why I have asked our social policy review to look into whether we should cut the benefits of those parents whose children constantly play truant.

“Yes, this would be a tough measure - but we urgently need to restore order and respect in the classroom and I don't want ideas like this to be off the table.”

In his speech, Mr Cameron also stressed that being ambitious was vital in order to “mend our broken society”.

He said: “Education doesn’t just give people the tools to make a good living – it gives them the character to live a good life, to be good citizens.  So, for the future of our economy, and for the future of our society, we need a first-class education for every child.”