Michael Gove, Education Secretary is due to announce radical measures to improve failing primary schools today in an address to the annual conference of the National College for School Leadership in Birmingham.

Speaking to the BBC this morning ahead of the announcement, Mr Gove explained that the government intends to convert the 200 poorest performing primary schools in England to academy status by 2012. These schools have consistently failed to meet targets over a five year period for 11-year-olds in maths and English. An academy school is a privately run, publicly funded school within the state sector.

There are in total 1400 primary schools in England which are below standards and the government would like to see all of these schools convert to academy status, but Mr Gove explains that the plans need to be “ambitious but realistic”.

Mr Gove told the BBC this morning, "We can't have a situation where young children are arriving at the age of 11 at secondary schools not secure in English and mathematics. That's why we need rapid action to deal with the very worst primary schools."

"What we're seeing through the academy movement is a grassroots change in the way that education is operating in this country - heads are in charge not politicians." He indicated that a change of teaching staff may become necessary, "Sometimes yes, the head teacher will go. But in other circumstances it will be the case that the staff will remain the same, but the leadership that's provided by another school will help those who've been struggling for far too long to improve.”

"It's not intended to be anything other than a helping hand upwards, for the staff and the school, but above all for the children, who have to be our first concern.”

"Above all it comes down to a change of attitude and direction. And above all it comes down to a determination to ensure that instead of having a monopoly organisation, a team of bureaucrats who are not driving forward an improvement in standards, what you do is empower teachers - and above all heads - to give those schools that haven't had proper leadership, the chance to improve."

In his speech today, Mr Gove is expected to focus on the comparisons between the English standards of educational achievement and those of Asian countries. He is expected to highlight  that in Singapore around 80% of GCSE equivalent students are attaining at least a grade C in English and Maths compared to an average 50% success rate for pupils in Britain.  Mr Gove will today announce new targets to drive up standards in secondary schools, but he believes that focusing on improving primaries is key.

The Guardian reports that Mr Gove will explain to teachers in his speech today, "Meanwhile there is a rapid and historic shift of political and economic power to Asia and a series of scientific and technological changes that are transforming our culture, economy and global politics. If we do not have a school system adapting to and preparing for these challenges, then we will face even worse crises in the years ahead. There is only so much you can do between 11 and 16."