Strict school that banned 'Meet Me At McDonald's' haircuts and ordered pupils to go to bed at 9.30pm angers parents again by bringing in experts to measure girls' skirts (3 Pics)

Headteacher Barry Smith has been criticised by some parents but praised by Ofsted

Furious parents have been left outraged after a controversial high school hired 'uniform police' to measure the length of their daughters' skirts 

Great Yarmouth Charter Academy, which previously hit headlines after banning the so-called Meet Me At McDonald's haircut, called in experts after pupils were turning up in short skirts. 

Parents slammed the decision of headmaster, Barry Smith, to enlist members of staff from nearby uniform retailer, Harrisons Schoolwear, to measure pupils' hems. 

But the 800-pupil Norfolk secondary school has defended its decision.

'School ethos': The strict regime for appearance and behaviour has been defended by the academy as being part of building a school ethos (stock pic)

The school said its experts identified a handful of students flouting the rules by using hair bobbles and elastic bands to raise their skirts.

The grey skirts should be knee-length and sit on the hip, according to the academy’s own uniform policy.

One mother raged on Facebook : “I think it’s a joke. You’d think they’d have more important things to do than waste time checking children’s uniforms.

"Great use of taxpayers’ money.”

Another moaned: “So today 2x ladies from Harrison’s uniform shop were in and (Mr) Smith was saying all skirts and trousers have to be from Harrisons and will be put on the site soon.

Don't meet me at McDonalds: Earlier this year Great Yarmouth Charter Academy wrote to parents to ban this haircut, which had been nicknamed the 'Meet me at McDonalds' online for its association which 'chav' culture.

“The Harrisons ladies then inspected all skirts with a teacher.

"Not best pleased that outside people are inspecting my daughter’s uniform.”

The Inspiration Trust, the academy chain behind Charter, defended the decision.

A spokesman said: “Great Yarmouth Charter Academy held assemblies to remind pupils of the school’s uniform policy, and to introduce pupils to staff from the school’s uniform supplier, Harrisons.

“Some pupils were given advice on their uniform, particularly in relation to skirt length.”

Harrisons Schoolwear added: “We were called in by the school to check the lengths of some of the girls’ skirts because some of them are rolling them up.

"Their policy is for knee length.

“We work with the schools and if the schools want us we are there.

"We are there to back the schools because we are their stockists, we are working with them.” 

The academy has previously been criticised for its strict new rules on uniform and haircuts, banning one style called 'Meet Me at McDonald’s'.

The curly-on-top, short-at-the-sides look has been compared to the eighties' New Romantic movement.

It features shaved sides and a long tousled top with a floppy fringe.