Mortimer Wilson School — which is being re-named as Alfreton Grange Arts College in September — is being targeted by ministers as part of a new standards drive because less than 30 per cent of its pupils achieve at least five good GCSEs including English and maths.

All schools falling below the Government's 'floor target' have now been told to improve their grades or face the axe.

Local authorities are to be given 50 days to produce a rescue plan to improve schools and the Government has said it will require every secondary school in England to have achieved the GCSE benchmark within three years as part of its National Challenge launched on Tuesday.

But headteacher at Mortimer Wilson School, Wendy Sharp, says the school has had an improvement plan in place since September last year and is expecting to see improved grades in the summer.

'Action plan'

"Last year we had 37 per cent of students achieving five GCSEs A* to C grade but the numbers tend to take a tumble when it comes to maths and English," said Wendy.

"However, we have had an action plan in place since last year to improve grades which we have been implementing and tracking.

"Therefore, I am confident grades will improve this year and come up to the Government's benchmark or close to it.

"I am not sure about the Government's timing on this though – surely it would have been better to have brought this in after last year's results or wait until this year's results to produce an action plan.

'Improve'

"Students enter the school with low literacy levels, but we are working hard to improve grades and are working closely with the local authority, which has been very supportive.

"Staff at the school are working hard and pulling together with the local authority, governors and parents to get improved results and the students have been sterling.

"Attendance has improved dramatically and we are sure that will work in our favour for the results."

Coun Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council's cabinet member for schools, told Chad: "There are complex reasons why some students do not achieve A* to C grade GCSEs or equivalent and there are no simple solutions to this.

"We're working closely with our schools to develop tailored strategies to support teaching staff, students, parents and carers in tackling these issues to boost the number of students achieving A* to C grades and equivalent, including English and maths."

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