Yesterday, Tuesday, the Government announced more than 600 schools nationally are failing to achieve the required 30 per cent pass rate of A-C grades, including English and maths.

These schools have been told they could close if they do not meet the national standard in the next three years.

But critics have condemned the scheme because most of the schools on the list are from deprived areas, and while they may not have reached the national standard, standards within many of these schools are on the rise.

St Clement's head teacher Vondra Mays agrees not all schools should be judged on the same level.

She said: "It is with great disappointment students who attend school within a selective education system are once again deemed to be classed as failing.

"While some of the Lincolnshire schools identified on the recent list are not within a selective education system, St Clement's College is.

"The Government has taken no account of this fact whatsoever.

"Not all children can pass the selective system entrance exam but this does not mean not all children can succeed. Indeed, far from it, as our own results have demonstrated over the last few years.

"Here at St Clement's College we will never stop treating our students as individuals and getting the best out of each of them.

"Of course we continually strive for improvement, and this is evidenced year on year, but please let us remember the constraints which we are subject to.

"Let the students of the selective education system be recognised in their own right and be praised appropriately."

Lincolnshire County Council has 50 days to produce a detailed improvement plan.

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