Headmaster David WilliamsQUEEN'S SPEECH - EDUCATION: TONY Blair is expected to announce that a method used to help kick-start a beleaguered Swindon school will be rolled out across the country.

The Queen's speech will include an Education and Skills Bill which will enable thriving schools to expand by taking over failing ones.

The idea is similar to the model used last year as a bid to turn around Headlands School in Crickdale Road.

Ofsted inspectors put the school into special measures in late 2002 amid concerns over rock-bottom results.

The school closed and then reopened in September 2004 as part of a Fresh Start scheme which helped improve its standards. It was in a "federation" with Kingsdown School in Upper Stratton.

At first Kingsdown's headteacher David Williams worked as the executive head of both schools, with overall responsibility for boosting their performance.

Headlands later recruited their own dedicated head.

Today the Government is expected use the State Opening of Parliament to extend the idea as a centrepiece for his reform of secondary school education.

North Swindon MP Michael Wills said it was too early to say whether the Headlands model had worked but added that he welcomed the idea as "one of a number of options" for poor performing schools.

He said: "It is very important there is no set formula for schools. We have to offer a number of possible alternatives which can be used if the circumstances are suitable.

"Every school is different and has a different set of challenges. There are occasions when schools fail not because of the hard work of teachers or headteachers but because of a whole series of circumstances." The Queen's speech is also expected to speed up the rolling out of controversial City Academies the Government wants to build 200 across the country by 2008.

Tony Blair wants academies which are partly funded by private donors to be used in town's the size of Swindon across the country.

However, earlier this year the Labour-dominated education select committee called for no more than 50 until the scheme had been "thoroughly evaluated" and questioned the £5bn cost.

Re-opening failing schools under new regimes is a cop-out which avoids the real issues, says the NUT.

Pete Smith, secretary of the Swindon branch of the National Union of Teachers, is bitterly opposed to the idea. It ignores the real problems," he said.

"For example, a school may be in a deprived area or under-funded.

"Opening under a new regime won't address any of those problems.

"It's part of a culture of shifting blame onto teachers.

"I would prefer not to comment on Headlands, but I would say that what it really needs is smaller class sizes and more staff."