More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Almost a quarter of Kent schools are not meeting minimum standards according to the latest Ofsted figures.
Of 558 primary and secondaries inspected up to December 31 last year, 24 schools - 4% - have been rated inadequate, while a further 105 - 19% - require improvement.
In Medway, the picture is even worse.
A third of schools are not good enough, according to Ofsted, with 32% either requiring improvement or rated inadequate.
Nationally just 2% of schools are rated inadequate while 17% require improvement, while 61% are rated good and 20% are outstanding.
Kent falls just short of this with 60% of schools rated good, and a further 17% rated outstanding.
In Medway, 59% are good, but only 9% are outstanding.
Mapped: Inadequate schools in Kent and Medway
This still leaves thousands of pupils attending schools that do not meet the required standards.
A parent at one Medway primary said her daughter's class has had 14 teachers since September - a new teacher every two weeks.
KentOnline spoke to parents outside Temple Mill Primary School in Rochester.
One mum, who did not want to be named, said: "There's been too many changes in teachers. My daughter has had 14 teachers since September and it's just not on.
"It's affecting their educaton."
Another parent said: "Teachers seem to be so unhappy in their job. It's not good around the children. They need to improve morale.
"My boy hates coming into school. It's so difficult to get him to go in every morning."
Temple Mill has a new headteacher coming next month, and parents hope standards will improve.
Mike Sheridan, a senior Ofsted inspector covering Kent and Medway, said Medway in particular had experienced serious problems.
This has prompted Ofsted to inspect the local authority itself to make sure it is doing enough to improve the Towns' schools.
"The fact of the matter is we can't have a lottery system where some children get a great education and others get an education that's mediocre or worse" - Mike Sheridan, senior Ofsted inspector
Mr Sheridan said: "We have concerns around Medway and this week inspectors are visiting the local authority to report on what the local authority is doing to improve standards and we will report our findings in the coming months.
"We want every child to go to a school that's either good or outstanding.
"The fact of the matter is we can't have a lottery system where some children get a great education and others get an education that's mediocre or worse."
When a school is rated inadequate, the number of inspections is stepped up to make sure standards are closely monitored.
"It takes time for a school that's so poor as to be rated inadequate to improve" said Mr Sheridan.
"But we check back every term and if we don't see improvement we would be asking some very serious questions about the leadership of that school."
Regardless of whether a school is an academy or maintained by the local authority, Mr Sheridan said a good headteacher and effective senior staff are key.
"The issue is around leadership," he said.
"We know that great leaders lead great schools, whether it's an academy or a maintained school.
"We'd say schools need to make sure they have the right leaders in the right places... it's more about the individuals in those schools than the systems and structures around them."
Schools are judged to be inadequate for a number of reasons, including teaching, leadership, behaviour or safety, or a combination of these factors.
Roger Gough, Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Education at Kent County Council said: “We are aiming for all schools in Kent to be rated as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.
"Children only have one chance at their education and we believe every child in Kent should go to a good school.
"The county council is working closely in partnership with schools that are judged to be inadequate and those that most require improvement in order to help drive up standards.
“We have seen standards in Kent schools steadily rise and the gap with the national average reduce.
"In July 2014, the percentage of good and outstanding schools was 75%, compared to 68% at the same time in 2013, 59% in 2012 and 55% in 2011.
"By 2018 we expect at least 90% of schools in Kent to be good and outstanding."
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