David Cameron has insisted there will be "no more excuses" for failure in schools and that discipline and "elitism" must prevail to mend the country's "broken society".
Speaking at the opening of a free school in Norwich on Friday, the prime minister hit back at critics of the new system, saying academies, independence and choice "really works".
"We've got to be ambitious, too, if we want to mend our broken society.
"Because 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," he said.
The prime minister also said he had asked the government's social policy review to look into whether the benefits of parents whose children frequently play truant should be cut.
"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."
He emphasised the strict no- nonsense approach the government would adopt to discipline, exams and raising school standards, saying any school where less than 50 per cent of pupils achieved five or more 'good' GSCEs would be defined as "underperforming".
He announced the end of the opportunity to constantly re-sit exams and making exams less frequent but more rigorous.
Cameron said the tough policy would help the UK compete with emerging markets in the future.
"We've got to be ambitious if we want to compete in the world.
"When China is going through an educational renaissance, when India is churning out science graduates any complacency now would be fatal for our prosperity.
The first of the government's free schools, championed by Michael Gove, will be opening their doors this month, but are still facing harsh criticism. But Cameron fought the schools' corner and insisted they paved the way for better education.
"Free schools encourage existing schools to compete and raise their game. It is nonsense thinking they will harm the poorest. Those opposing free schools are simply defending the status quo - one which has failed too many pupils and parents for too long."
The government hopes another 150 secondaries and 200 primaries will be converted to free school status by September next year.
But the National Union of Teachers (NUT) hit back at Cameron's proposals saying free schools and academies are a "divisive and unnecessary experiment".
Christine Blower, general secretary of the NUT, said: "To impose yet more draconian targets on schools will further stifle the education system in this country.
"The prime minister conveniently forgot the link between education standards and high quality teaching when it decided that Free Schools do not have to employ qualified teachers."
Cameron emphasised the coalition would be "acting decisively to deal with failure", and would adopt an elitist approach to education.
But Andy Burnham hit back saying Cameron's calls for elitism are the "wrong response".
"By taking a narrow approach to education, the Government is catering for some schools and some children and relegating others to second class."
Katharine Birbalsingh, the former deputy head who was dubbed the Tory's darling after speaking at the Conservative Party Conference last year in favour of free schools echoed Cameron's sentiments.
She told the Huffington Post UK: "Every year GCSE results have gone up. Every year we believe our children are getting more intelligent. It's absurd. It's very obvious exams have changed but we would rather protect our children. I love children but I'm not going to tell someone they're doing really well if they are just mediocre. That does not help them. Later on in life they get a big shock. They can't get jobs."
Cameron concluded: "We want to see every school striving for excellence. We know what works in improving education. We now have to have the will to make it work. This government and this prime minister has got that will, energy and passion to make it happen."