A third of Medway schools are not good enough, according to Ofsted.

Figures released by the schools watchdog showed that by the end of last year, 32% were either requiring improvement or inadequate.

Of the 90 schools which have been inspected by the end of 2014, just eight were outstanding.

Head of educational improvement Cllr Kelly Tolhurst presented her School Improvement Strategy in January highlighting the aims of the council between now and the end of 2016.

She said: “Improvement is our priority. I am determined to get all our schools progressing towards an outstanding rating. But it can take months to tackle the underlying problems in individual schools.

“We are working with school communities, teachers and academies to make sure that schools are helping schools and everybody is playing their part in driving up standards. We want to accelerate progress and ensure all children are being taught in successful environments.”

Swingate Primary, in Sultan Road, Lordswood, was created last year by merging the outstanding Swingate Infants with Spinnens Acre Juniors which required improvement.
By working together the school was rated good in its latest Ofsted.

The figures put Medway below the national average, with just 68% of schools good or outstanding, compared to 81%.

For more on the latest Ofsted figures pick up a copy of Monday's Medway Messenger.