A political row has broken out after a confidential list of changes to Medway primary schools was leaked to the media.

Medway Council was due to announce on Wednesday its proposed plans to merge 16 primary schools and close three after ensuring all schools were notified before going public.

But its plans were unveiled by the BBC on Monday after a document was apparently leaked to them by the opposition Labour group despite a strict embargo being in place.

Cllr Les Wicks, portfolio holder for children's services at Medway Council, said: "We wish to emphasise to everyone this is not an exercise based on trying to gain land to sell off, which is what a lot of people will think.

"Members do understand how it can be a painful process for staff, for pupils and for parents."

The changes are part of the Medway Primary Strategy Change. The Government has set aside more than £11million in its primary capital programme to invest in the council's proposals to transform primary school education in Medway.

Deputy Leader Cllr Alan Jarrett said: "These are changes the Labour government is demanding we make as part of the Primary Strategy for Change.

"The behaviour of the Labour group is despicable and they are causing unnecessary alarm and despondency by leaking this information before schools and parents have been told."

A spokesman for Medway Council said: "We are sorry that staff, parents and pupils are hearing a partial story through the media first - that was not the council's intention."

Cllr Bill Esterson, Labour spokesman on education, said: "The BBC received anonymous emails describing the proposals in detail and asked us to comment on the proposal, we were told they would run the story with or without our comments.

"Blaming the Government will not wash. It's a done deal. What it will be is telling people (what is going to happen) the same as what happened with the Chatham Road Scheme and the Strood Academy."

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