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The Department for Education has claimed 41 ‘struggling’ Birmingham primary schools are making progress after converting to academies in the last two years.

Government figures revealed that 645 under-performing primaries across the country have been converted to academies under new sponsors since the start of 2012.

Sponsored academies are those removed from council control and backed by organisations such as education trusts, private companies, religious groups or even other, more successful schools.

And the Department claims that sponsored academies have improved by an average of three percentage points in school league tables compared to one per cent across the board.

A Department for Education spokesman said: “The best way to turn around the stubborn under-performance that exists in some schools is to bring in a sponsor.

"These sponsors bring with them experience, strong leadership, know-how – and a track record of success.

“It is vital we continue to raise standards so all children leave primary school with a thorough grounding in reading, writing and maths so they can thrive at secondary school.”

The 645 stuggling schools now under sponsors includes, as well as 41 in Birmingham, six in Walsall, one each in Dudley and Solihull, two in Sandwell, three in Wolverhampton, ten in Warwickshire, three in Worcestershire and ten in Staffordshire.