Parents claim more than 20 children have left strict academy school

A new academy school in Norfolk that introduced strict rules in a bid to turn its fortunes around has seen more than 20 children leave since the start of term, parents have claimed.

Great Yarmouth Charter Academy's rules include that pupils must track a teacher with their eyes whenever the teacher is talking, pupils must walk between lessons silently in single file and are advised to be asleep by 9.30pm each night.

Parent Kelvin Seal said he had been told that 23 parents had taken their children out of the school since the start of term and that some of these were in response to the rules.

A Norfolk County Council spokesman said it had received 13 requests fortransfers from Great Yarmouth Charter Academy to another school, but could not comment on the figures claimed.

If a parent decided to withdraw their child and did not request a transfer,they would not be aware of it, the spokesman added.

James Goffin, a spokesman for Inspiration Trust, said the number of pupilsleaving was not a cause for concern and parents had also approached the academy asking for their children to join.