Three schools in Dover and Deal are among those which face the axe unless they improve.

They are Archers Court, Astor College and Castle Community College.

The Government is targeting 638 UK schools failing to meet its target of 30 per cent of pupils achieving at least five A to C grade GCSEs, including English and maths.

It warns those unable to improve within three years will be shut and replaced with a new Trust school.

The figure for Archers Court is 16 per cent and for Astor College and Castle Community College it is 23 per cent.

Teachers at Archers Court and Astor maintain exam results are improving and cited the county’s selective school system for making the figures misleading.

Archers Court head teacher Elaine Hamilton said: "Forty-one per cent of our pupils are on the special educational needs register.

"We are in the top 22 per cent of the country when it comes to improving students beyond their own personal targets from when they arrive at the school.

Head of Astor College, Carol Donovan, said: "Our examination results have improved steadily over recent years. We shall continue to use every strategy available to us to ensure the best possible results for our students."

Chairman of governors at Castle Community College, Sylvia Jones, said: "We have just had an outstanding Ofsted report, so we won’t be facing closure. Our prediction is that we will hit all exam requirements in August."

Despite several attempts to contact her, principal Christine Chapman did not wish to comment.

See this week's East Kent Mercury and Dover Mercury for the full story.