COUNCIL chiefs in Medway say it could be the New Year before the names of seven schools being considered for possible closure or merger are revealed.

Cllr Les Wicks, Medway Council’s portfolio holder for children, is defying calls to be open about which primary and secondary sites are in the frame as part of an annual education review, adding that to do so now would affect morale. Nothing is likely to be officially revealed until January.

“These schools might not even close or merge, we may even look at expansion,” he said. "So to name them now would undermine morale of the staff, parents and pupils. It would be unfair and cause unnecessary worry.”

The review is considering the future of six primary and one secondary school, each of which has at least 25 per cent of places empty.

Cllr Wicks said that other factors, including learning standards and future housing development, were also being considered.

The seven schools will be named when officers produce a report in preparation for the consultation, possibly in early January, he added.

The decision not to name the schools has been criticised by town hall critics. Labour group leader Paul Godwin said: “Having identified these seven schools, the onus on the Tories is to say which schools they are.

“Without that, there is great uncertainty and leaves other schools in Medway wondering whether they are on the list.”

Schools with falling rolls and those that are under-performing were warned at last week’s cabinet meeting that they would be closed by the council if they didn’t improve.

New targets were agreed as children returned to school. The rules will see all remaining junior and infants schools merged when current head teachers resign or retire, the meeting heard.

It follows a government instruction to ensure schools are cost-effective at a time when pupil numbers are shrinking due to the impact of lower birth rates. Falling school rolls are now hitting secondary schools.

Schools will be judged on academic achievements, their financial viability, pupil numbers, and ensuring a two-tier system for three to 19-year-olds.

Schools will be encouraged to achieve specialist status and to increase vocational training.

Deputy leader Cllr Alan Jarrett (Con), said there were going to be some unpopular decision. “We have an overriding duty to give the best education to our children in Medway,” he said.

“There will be some difficult things to do, but as we work our way through it, we should have a much better educational standard in Medway.”