An expert has launched a devastating attack on Medway’s primary education standards in the week parents found out where their children will going in September.

Peter Read, an independent education adviser for Kent and Medway, welcomed the news more families got their first choice compared to last year but issued a warning some schools were still failing their pupils.

The former head said: “Medway’s primary results are among the worst in the country and have been for years. Ofsted show this, Key Stage 2 results show this. A number of Medway schools are leaving the authority and becoming academies, and what is absolutely clear is that the Medway school improvement department is not fit for purpose.

“I am frequently contacted by parents at some of the worst failing schools who are distressed and distraught about their five-year-old children’s prospects in primary school, and that is sad.”

Medway’s primary school performance is below the national average, but improvements have been made year-on-year over the past three years.

Cllr Mike O’Brien, in charge of children’s services said: “We are not where we need to be, but turning around our education performance is like spinning a battleship on a sixpence. It takes time, and we are improving.

“Having people beating down those who are trying to do good really doesn’t help anyone.

“We do need to get more children’s literacy up, but is important to remember that teachers can only do this to a point. We have thousands of fantastic parents in Medway, but some do not take the time to sit and read with their child at home and that makes a huge difference.”

Almost 200 more applications for school places were received by Medway Council this year, a total of more than 3,500. Yet more got their first choice, at 87% compared to 86% last year. It puts Medway above Kent – which remains at 86% – for the greatest percentage of happy parents.

Another 7% got their second choice and 0.5% their third.

But it means 126 children, roughly 4%, have been left without any of their four preferences.