An indictment of close to a decade of Conservative control of the Local Education Authority has seen Medway slide to the bottom of the Primary School league tables in England and Wales
Today's results are a damning indictment on the Conservative administration and the state of education in Medway and points to a failure of the LEA to adequately support poor performing schools to ensure they improve there performance.
Almost a third of our pupils are failing to achieve the results they deserve despite years of per pupil funding increases from government.
It is fair to say that Medway has consistently performed poorly and it would be remiss not to point out that a number of individual primary schools have improved. However, the story for many remains static; whilst the good schools continue to perform the poor schools are not adequately supported.
Medway should not occupy a position close to the bottom of the table because taken as a whole, we are a wealthier demographic than a number of those areas that perform better. This makes the poor result all the more damning, because on average our pupils should have more opportunity.
There are too many primary schools in Medway that are failing and the pace of improvement needs to quicken. Unfortunately, given Tory cuts to education budgets this remains a risk. We start from the bottom of the hill with a strong headwind and icy slopes.
After the shambles of the Primary School re-organisation last year, this points to an oversight failure by Conservatives over the strategic direction of education in Medway. Next year, we need a change of focus away from performing schools who can manage themselves, onto the most disadvantaged and poor performing schools. We need Councillors who get education.
The authorities listed are ranked firstly on the percentage of pupils attaining the government benchmark of Level 4 in both their maths and English SATS. The average point score in the national curriculum tests, out of a maximum of 33, is then used as a tie-break. Medway scored 26.8 points which is way below the average.
Many educational psychologists believe that future education achievement is overwhelmingly impacted by what is termed 'early intervention'. It is clear we are failing too many at the earliest points in their lives.
Luton & Wayfield ward saw a number of poor performing schools that are way below the average. Breaking down statistics on free school meals, ESOL and ward demographics and it is clear that not only are these schools not being given adequate support but with future cuts in the EMA and tuition fee hikes, the Conservatives are damning an entire generation of students from the area to failure.
That is why residents next year must oppose Conservative cuts because as we can see they skew resource away from areas with most need to wealthier areas.
It is true though that a quarter of schools boycotted the SATS tests this year, and where there is not enough data to give an accurate figure, government statisticians have not published averages. The data therefore is open to error but
Our position on the table is appalling and we need a renewed focus and vigour on improving those schools so that our future generations are not strangled of opportunity from their earliest years
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