As many as one in five secondary schools in England face closure unless they can improve their exam results.
The Government is targeting 638 schools, where less than 30% of the pupils gain at least five good GCSEs including English and Maths.
The new standards drive, known as the National Challenge, will give the worst performing schools only three years to pull their GCSEs grades above the 30% benchmark. The scheme will also see the number of academies increase by 70.
Launching the scheme Schools Secretary Ed Balls told Radio 4: "Academies in the last few years have been taking intakes from more deprived areas, a move deprived intake than their area would suggest, and have faster rises in results than the average."
Struggling schools will receive additional funding, expert advice and support from neighbouring successful schools and external partnerships.
There will also be a new type of school structure for those "completely unable to raise their exam results".
These National Challenge Trusts will see the shutting down of the failing school and a reopening of a new school, to be run as a joint project with a high-performing local school and a partner such as a local business or university, with up to £750,000 funding.
Teachers' unions have criticised the plan and suggested it risks stigmatising schools in poor areas.
The Government is targeting 638 schools, where less than 30% of the pupils gain at least five good GCSEs including English and Maths.
The new standards drive, known as the National Challenge, will give the worst performing schools only three years to pull their GCSEs grades above the 30% benchmark. The scheme will also see the number of academies increase by 70.
Launching the scheme Schools Secretary Ed Balls told Radio 4: "Academies in the last few years have been taking intakes from more deprived areas, a move deprived intake than their area would suggest, and have faster rises in results than the average."
Struggling schools will receive additional funding, expert advice and support from neighbouring successful schools and external partnerships.
There will also be a new type of school structure for those "completely unable to raise their exam results".
These National Challenge Trusts will see the shutting down of the failing school and a reopening of a new school, to be run as a joint project with a high-performing local school and a partner such as a local business or university, with up to £750,000 funding.
Teachers' unions have criticised the plan and suggested it risks stigmatising schools in poor areas.
