Around 600 schools across England have been told they will be converted into independent academies run by charities, education chains and entrepreneurs by the end of next year.
But school-by-school league tables being published next week are expected to drag even more primaries onto a Government blacklist amid fears that too many pupils are underachieving in the three-Rs.
Nationally, data will show that around one-in-four children – 135,000 – finished primary education with a poor grasp of English and maths.
Headline pass rates will be significantly up on 2011 when around a third of children lacked a proper grounding in reading, writing and arithmetic.
But ministers will warn that too many schools – particularly in poor areas – are still failing to ensure that enough children leave with the basic skills needed to make a success of secondary education.
Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, has pledged to target schools in inner-city communities such as Derby and Leicester where standards are “far too low”.
Speaking before the publication of the tables, he said: “There are hundreds more under-performing primary schools, many concentrated in other disadvantaged communities, where we need to act.
“Children in those schools are not receiving the education they deserve.”
Under new rules, all schools are supposed to ensure that at least 60 per cent of 11-year-olds reach the standard expected for their group in English and maths.
They are also expected to satisfy separate “pupil progress” measures charting children’s rate of improvement between the age of seven and 11.
Last year, 1,310 schools out of almost 15,000 across England fell short of the target – almost one-in-10.
Next week’s figures are expected to show the number of failing schools has dropped below 1,000 following a rise in the pass rate nationally.
Those falling under floor targets for several years will be told they face being pulled out of council control and converted into academies.
Some 200 are already in the process of being converted after repeatedly dipping below national benchmarks in the past, with a further 400 expected to be fast-tracked through the process in the next 12 months.
Teaching unions are fiercely opposed to academy status and led a high-profile campaign to block attempts to forcibly put Downhills primary in Haringey, north London, under the control of a charity run by Lord Harris of Peckham.
Mr Gove said: “In a number of communities the local forces of conservatism have worked against reform and have thrown every possible obstacle in the path of potential academy sponsors and free school founders trying to make a difference.”
National results in primary school exams are set to show that 75 per cent of pupils hit national standards in the three-Rs combined, compared with just 67 per cent last year.
The proportion of pupils reaching the standard expected for their age increased from 80 to 84 per cent in maths and 84 to 87 per cent in reading tests.
But it is believed that the overall rise in standards across all subjects was partly down to a decision to scrap a controversial writing exam this year. Next week's tables will rely instead on teachers’ own assessments of pupils’ abilities in writing.
Teacher assessment scores showed 81 per cent of pupils had good writing skill levels – up from 75 per cent in the corresponding exam a year earlier.
A DfE spokesman said: “It is important to root out underperformance and drive up standards, so that students reach their academic potential. Ministers are clear that the best way to do this is the strong external challenge and leadership provided by experienced academy sponsors.”