The organiser of a public meeting staged to debate educational under achievement in Keighley said the event was very constructive.

Aisha Ali, a former Greenhead High School pupil who has worked as a teacher in Huddersfield, arranged the meeting in the wake of comments made by Bradford Council leader Councillor Kris Hopkins.

He said some parents of pupils at Greenhead had failed to support their children.

The meeting, which was attended by Cllr Hopkins, was staged at Highfield Community Centre, on Sunday.

Ms Ali said: “It was really good and we had a positive atmosphere. We had about 25 people come along, including some parents and some school governors.

“People put forward practical ideas such as having more parents who are school governors and doing more to discourage pupils going on extended holidays in term time.

“The efforts have to come from all sides if we’re to break down the barriers that prevent effective learning. There are some very, very clever kids in Keighley with plenty of potential.”

She added it was important to move on from assigning blame for the current situation and instead find workable solutions.

Also among those present were representatives from the Keighley Council of Mosques and the Abu Zahra Foundation.