The education minister named and shamed Medway schools during a speech to launch the government's vision for education.

Speaking at the Kings College Maths School in London, Nicky Morgan used the Towns as an example of areas that have failing schools.

She said: "Our country can't afford a two tier education system with London streaking ahead and areas like Knowsley and Medway lagging behind.

"It’s morally wrong and economically self-defeating."

Medway's primary schools came joint bottom of the Key Stage 2 league tables in December 2015 and at the end of 2014 was ranked worst in England by Ofsted.

According to the school's inspectorate almost half of primary pupils are in schools rated inadequate or requiring improvement.

In December, Medway Council's schools chief, Cllr Mike O'Brien, faced calls to stand down.

Although official league tables from the Department for Education show school's performed above the county average in GCSE results, four schools in the Towns are below the government’s so-called floor target for 40%.

This includes The Robert Napier School, where only 26% of pupils reached the standard, while 34% did so at St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School, with Brompton Academy at 39% and The Victory Academy, formerly The Bishop of Rochester Academy, on 38%.

Overall 57.8% of pupils in Medway achieved at least five A* to C grades including English and maths last year.

Mrs Morgan said: "Education is at the heart of this Government’s mission – because a good education transforms a child’s future.

"I’m convinced that no aspect of public policy can be more focused on the future than our education system.

"I’m convinced that no aspect of public policy can be more focused on the future than our education system" - Nicky Morgan, education minister

"That’s why in a time of austerity, when public spending faces ongoing reductions, the Chancellor chose yesterday to invest more in our education system and put the next generation first."

During yesterday's budget, Chancellor George Osborne announced that every school in the country will become an academy.

Mrs Morgan said: "But let me be clear that giving every school autonomy does not mean the government will be abdicating its responsibilities. I am not so naïve as to believe that academy status in itself is a magic wand.

"It’s true some academies have been weaker than others, some haven’t met the high expectations that we’ve set for them.

"But here’s the crucial difference: when a local authority school failed, it was stuck with the local authority, end of story.

"Under a system of academies and multi academy trusts we have the power not just to intervene swiftly, but to actively move schools to new management to turn them around."

She concluded: "This White Paper is about ensuring that all of us can play the role that we do best, it’s a blueprint for how we can work together, not just to improve standards, important though that is, but to create a fundamentally different education system - an education system fit for the 21 century, an education system which is truly focused on putting the next generation first."