FOUR failing city primary schools have been told they could be shut down unless they improve pupils' test results within 15 months.

Boulton, Sinfin, Allenton and Pear Tree would be the first schools in Derbyshire closed for persistently poor grades.

The threat has come from the Government because Derby is one of 12 local authorities with the most failing primary schools in the country.

Education Secretary Ed Balls demanded an action plan by the end of January for the schools, which have missed the target of 55% or more pupils achieving level four in English and maths for four years or more.

Ministers say that if the city council cannot get the schools to raise their game, it may be stripped of its responsibility for helping heads drive up exam performance and outside experts brought in instead.

But city education officers are hoping an action plan sent to the Government will help turn around results.

City officials are keeping tight-lipped about each school's proposals because of pupil confidentiality, but it is understood there will be a greater emphasis on providing one-to-one tuition for problem students.

There is also a proposal to spend at least an extra £100,000 to more than double the number of days that school improvement officers work at Boulton, Sinfin, Allenton and Pear Tree to 30 a year.

Improvement officers are typically retired heads who give staff at struggling schools the benefit of their experience, suggesting better methods.

For the past three years, authorities across the country have been forced by education ministers to employ independent improvement officers at rates of over £400 a day.

The authority is now proposing to bring officers back "in-house", recruiting and paying them itself.

A city council spokesman said: "People employed by us will share the accountability of success and failure, which is difficult to achieve when a retired head teacher travels from another city to work.

"We need to get this right because there is a lot at stake for everyone and we have made sure that the schools believe and have evidence that they can reach the 55% next year."

He said that if the schools cannot reach the standard, the council may have to look at turning them into federations or trusts – in which they link with another more successful school – or closing them altogether. In that case, pupils would be sent to nearby schools, or the school would formally close and reopen with a new name and head in an effort to break with its past.

Maddie Oldershaw, head at Peartree Junior School, is convinced her pupils will reach the 55% target next year. They achieved 38% in 2009.

She said: "It is a big challenge but achievable. We are hoping to extend our one-to-one tuition by targeting the children who are underachieving and need extra support.

"We are working with an improvement partner employed by the council and it makes so much more sense to have someone with us who knows the area."

There is a similar positive attitude at Sinfin Primary School, where 41% of pupils achieved level four in combined English and maths.

Head teacher Jim Crawford said: "Everyone at Sinfin Primary is determined to exceed the target in 2011.

"Staff, governors and children are working very hard to improve attainment."

Allenton head Julia Tilley said the school was showing "determination and positivity". She added: "Additional help and support is always welcome."