COUNTY education chiefs have hit back at claims by the former Conservative party leader Michael Howard that their plans to close and merge dozens of primary schools are fundamentally mistaken.

An extraordinary row broke out when Kent Online reported last week how Kent MP Michael Howard had savaged Kent County Council’s plans, saying they were "nothing short of disgraceful" and "fundamentally mistaken."

He went on to claim that KCC was basing its plans on government recommendations about appropriate levels of surplus places that did not exist.

But now KCC has gone on the offensive against Mr Howard, saying that doing nothing is not an option and that its strategy is in accordance with guidance from the Audit Commission.

Conservative KCC cabinet member for education, Cllr John Simmonds, said: "The Audit Commission says education authorities should aim to have as few as possible, and certainly no more than 10 per cent, empty places. Kent has almost 12 per cent. The commision has also said situations where individual schools have more than 25 per cent spare capacity should be addressed as a matter of urgency.

"The DfES insist it is told where this is the case. Seventy eight Kent schools have in excess of 25 per cent surplus places – almost 17 per cent of the total. Doing nothing is not an option."

He added that the Audit Commission had publicly backed KCC’s strategy, saying that its target of a five to seven per cent surplus at schools was perfectly reasonable in that context.

Mr Howard, who was speaking out against plans affecting three schools in his constituency, said: "I am very sorry to say that we have a Conservative-run county council which has adopted a policy which is uniquely hostile to small schools and in my opinion, nothing short of disgraceful."

When he had contacted the DfES about its recommendation regarding spare places - which KCC says is a cornerstone of its strategy - he was told by officials there was no such policy.

"I have been in touch with the DfES. It has made no such recommendation."

The MP went on to say that DfES officials had told his office that "Kent has just made this up".

Meanwhile, plans affecting schools closures and mergers in east Kent will come under the spotlight this Tuesday (September 12) when a cross-party committee of county councillors considers considers plans for schools in Dover and Deal.