Government wants to increase number of five to 18 'all-through' academies

Children face being taught at one school from the age of five to 18 as part of new Government plans.

Schools Minister Lord Adonis wants to increase the number of so-called 'all-through' academies to prevent pupil performance dipping in between primary and secondary schools.

Education experts have frequently warned that the transition between primary and secondary schools is crucial for children and many struggle to cope with the change.

The Government hopes that the new 'all-through' academies will improve standards and that some of the 638 secondary schools currently failing to reach the requirements could be converted into the new institutes.

Lord Adonis said that developing the schools would be crucial in deprived areas.
He said there would be a 'strong emphasis on getting the basics of literature and numeracy established at the earliest age'.

The plans would mirror the private sector where many of the large public and independent schools have small preparatory departments attached for children aged five to 11.

Pupils would be given specialist lessons in English and Maths as soon as they start school to help them prepare for secondary school as early on as possible.

Younger children would also be taught music and language - subjects which are often ignored by primary schools as they do not have the specialist staff to teach them.

The disclosure of the plans comes as schools secretary Ed Balls is expected to reveal that up to 270 failing schools will close in the next three years to improve standards.

In a speech today, Mr Balls will also announce measures to crackdown on under-performing teachers. He will also unveil new plans to help the schools deemed to be seriously under-performing which would see councils stepping in to help out.

As part of what has been termed the National Challenge plan, the worst schools will be given 50 days to produce 'turnaround' plans or face closure.

Mr Balls has predicted that about 200 of the 638 failing schools will not improve fast enough and will be replaced by academies.

In addition he said that a further 70 schools would close and reopen under a new trust model.

Failing schools are defined as those in which fewer than 30 per cent of pupils secure five A to C GCSEs including English and Maths.

The minister said that local councils would be given the chance to help the failing school but if this did not work the Government would take 'radical' action.

He said: 'We don't want to see excuses about poor performance, what we want to see is clear plans to raise standards in every school with a clear expectation that if by 2011 there are still schools stuck below 30 per cent... our expectation will be that the school closes and reopens as a national trust or academy.'

Despite billions being pumped in to classrooms, nearly four million pupils - almost 60 per cent - have left school without gaining at least five C grades at GCSE.