THE new acting head of a school rocked by claims of high levels of bullying and truanting this week insisted its fortunes would be turned around.

Eammon Farrar took charge of Eastbourne Comprehensive School in Darlington, this week, replacing Karen Pemberton, who was suspended after a damning audit report.

The reported revealed what were said to be serious problems within Eastbourne and the borough council has launched an investigation.

The report, commissioned by the council, said that pupils feared being attacked in corridors, staff were shocked by the 'frightening' behaviour of some children and that truanting levels had become a grave concern.

Mr Farrar was chief executive of the country's first ever education federation - a link between Eastbourne and Hurworth Comprehensive School. He pledged unruly pupils at Eastbourne would be brought into line.

Mr Farrar said: "I have very strong, high standards and expectations of the children. I have left them in absolutely no doubt whatsoever that I expect those standards to be met immediately. That's the way it's going to be."

The federation is due to end on July 31, but Mr Farrar said he would call on help from the Hurworth school.

Ofsted inspectors had put Eastbourne into 'special measures,' but it came out of that last November.