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30
Jan 2023
Harrogate head torn between 'head and heart' over teacher strike
A Harrogate headteacher has said he is torn between his head and heart over this week's teacher strike.
Children in years seven to 10 and year 12 at Harrogate Grammar School will study remotely from home on Wednesday when the first of four days of planned industrial action take place.
Pupils in years 11 and 13 will attend school as usual and have lessons if teachers are not striking.
Speaking on the BBC News channel today, headteacher Neil Renton said half of the school's 115 staff belonged to the National Education Union, whose members had balloted in favour of the strikes.
Mr Renton said that as head he was keen to ensure the school stayed open but at the same time he could see the issues teachers faced and he therefore had conflicting emotions between his head and heart.
He said "there are just not enough teachers out there" and added one recent vacancy for an English teacher at the 2,000-pupil school attracted just one application.
Mr Renton, who said the union he belonged to would not be on strike this week, said too many teachers were leaving the profession. He added:
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