Failing schools face closure

Nearly one in five secondary schools in England are to be given a warning to improve exam results or face closure.

The government is targeting 638 schools, in which less than 30% of pupils achieve at least five good GCSEs including English and maths.

The National Challenge, being launched today, will require every secondary school in England to have achieved this GCSE benchmark within three years.

There are 27 secondary schools in Birmingham, 33 in Kent and 13 in Manchester facing this exams ultimatum.

The £400m standards drive, which will create up to 70 new academies, is to be unveiled by Schools Secretary Ed Balls.