Parents of children at Great Yarmouth Charter Academy got the chance to hear directly from the school's new principal - but there were mixed views on how the meeting had gone.

The meeting, organised following concern from parents over new behaviour policies introduced after the arrival of new principal Barry Smith, lasted for more than an hour and a half on Thursday.

But there was frustration among some parents who felt they were not allowed to get their points across.

However, others, having heard Mr Smith explain his approach, said they felt positive over what he intends to do to turn around the former Great Yarmouth High School, which had some of the worst results in the country in this summer's GCSEs.

Kelvin Seal, who set up a Facebook group for worried parents, said the meeting had been 'a charade', with parents not able to ask questions.

He said parents were shouted down when they tried to raise points, while questions were not answered.

Mr Seal said: 'Whenever parents tried to say something, they were hardly given any time, but whenever teachers said something about how bad it had been in the past there was applause and clapping.

'But we wanted to talk about the future, not what's happened in the past.

'To be fair, there were teachers who came across really well. There was a science teacher who talked from the heart and said they had got it wrong with those behaviour rules.

'But we weren't given a proper chance to speak out. I want to go to the school and meet Mr Smith to talk about my concerns..

'If I end up having to eat humble pie because he turns the school round, then I will be pleased because that will mean my daughter is getting a better education. But at the moment I still have questions I want to ask.'

Another parent, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: 'I came out of it feeling very positive. He [Mr Smith] said what he wanted to do was to make sure all children leave the school and can get into a good job.

'My daughter is in year 9 and before she went back, she'd been scared about going back to school.

'But she says it's now calmer and she's able to learn.'

Mr Smith said: 'We've had a really passionate meeting tonight, hearing from pupils, parents and staff... 'We still have some people to convince but our doors are still open. I'm confident that as more parents come in and see the school in action for themselves, we can really prove the Yarmouth kids can.'

He said the school hall was 'packed' and that he was 'particularly proud' of pupils who 'stood up for themselves and their fellow pupils'.