A headteacher has hit back at warnings her school could be closed within three years if results did not improve.

Dr Fiona Hammans said she felt frustrated that overnight she had gone from being the principal of a good and improving school to being portrayed as in charge of a failing school.

Banbury School, in Ruskin Walk, was named as one of 638 schools across the country that has not met the Government target 30 per cent of students achieving 5 GCSEs grade A* to C. The school's results were 28 per cent in 2007.

Next month Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, is due to visit the school for the second time. He visited last summer.

Dr Hammans pointed out the statistics were based on 2007 results and schools had until 2011 to reach the target.

Dr Hammans said: "I'm frustrated. This summer we expect to be on 30 per cent."