Standards at a school facing closure under proposals to open a new academy has been defended - by a group of award-winning pupils.

Pupils past and present spoke up for Medway Community College after they won individual awards in the annual Medway Try Angle competition.

Matt Tutt, a member of Medway Youth Parliament, is a former MCC pupil but now attends Chatham Grammar school’s sixth form.

“The criticisms of Medway Community College are so wrong,” he said.

“They claim the kids are rough, and don’t want to learn, and that Chatham South will show them the way. The pupils at both schools all come from the same background. It’s so unfair.”

Elhame Gecaj, who won the arts award, said: “People say bad stuff about the school.

“I don’t know why they say it. I’m getting all the grades I want.

“When you dig deep it’s a really great school. Everyone studies at some point.”

Maggie Grimmond, whose son Peter won the carer’s award for the way he has helped her and her husband, Brian, cope with cancer, praised the school.

“The real challenge is getting the kids to appear. How do you teach someone when they aren’t willing to learn, and don’t want to know?” she said.

“I had one boy with learning difficulties. He was at Silverbank, but went to Medway college. If they can cope with him, they can cope with anything.”