Dozens of parents attended a public meeting this evening where concerns were aired over a planned 45-hour primary school week.

Greenacre Primary School, in Great Yarmouth, is planning to introduce the radical timetable when it becomes an academy in September, with homework time and extracurricular activities built into the longer school day.

But concerned parents believe keeping year five and six children in school until 6pm each night will tire them out and harm family time, and that the long day should be optional.

A public meeting was held at Yarmouth Town Hall last night, with more than 60 parents hoping to discuss their worries with headmaster Bill Holledge and millionaire sponsor Theodore Agnew.

But neither turned up, and Yarmouth MP Brandon Lewis also declined an invitation.

The trio said they had prior commitments, with Mr Lewis sending an aide who read a statement on his behalf and Mr Holledge circulating a document answering some frequently asked questions about the plans.

Mother-of-one Valli Catchpole said: 'I'm disappointed the headmaster was not here to voice his own opinions.'

For the full story see tomorrow's EDP