SCHOOLS and academies branded 'coasting' by the government are being warned to up their game as the Education Secretary promises to tackle 'complacency'.

Nicky Morgan says secondary schools will be classed as coasting if they fail to ensure that 60 per cent of pupils get five good GCSE grades.

Primary schools where pupils fail to achieve level four in reading, writing and maths will also fall into the newly created category, as the government aims to target schools where children are not being pushed to reach their highest potential.

However, teaching unions claim the new categorisation of schools discounts work done to improve learning for less academic students whilst also ignoring Ofsted's ratings.

Announcing the new scheme, the Ms Morgan said: “I’m unapologetic about shining a spotlight on complacency and I want the message to go out loud and clear, that education isn’t simply about pushing children over an artificial borderline, but instead about stretching every pupil to unlock their potential and give them the opportunity to get on in life.

"I know that schools and teachers will rise to the challenge, and the extra support we’ll offer to coasting schools will help them do just that.”

The education department says that 'hundreds' of schools will have to raise their results to meet these higher expectations.

Schools falling into this coasting category will be given help to improve, but those that fail to make progress could be turned into academies. The classification will be based on three years of results.

Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “We feel this announcement is premature, as consultation about this definition has not been completed and the criteria it sets out for what constitutes a coasting school is muddled.

“We are pleased to see that there is an emphasis on supporting schools which are deemed to be coasting. However, it seems the eventual outcome will be to turn many of them into academies as though this is a solution in itself."