TEACHERS at a school are to hold a one-day strike for the second time in just over six months.

Staff at High Tunstall College of Science, in Hartlepool, have declared a vote of no confidence in headteacher Mirjam Buhler-Willey amid claims of bullying, harassment and being overworked.

The NASWUT union has sent a letter to council chiefs and governors to inform them about the unanimous vote by teachers.

Staff will hold a second day of strike action on February 4 following a walk-out on July 10 last year – the first such action taken at the school since it opened in 1973.

Sue Foreman, national executive member of NASUWT, said: “Staff at the school are extremely committed and want the best for pupils.

“But because of the sad state of affairs that exists at the moment, the members feel that the pupils are being sold short.

“We feel we have been more than generous in terms of time and patience, but it cannot go on forever.

“There are a large number of outstanding concerns from teaching staff which have yet to be resolved.”

Ken Shepherd, chairman of governors at High Tunstall, said: “The college and its governing body are involved in ongoing discussions with NASUWT regarding the dispute and we are doing everything we can to resolve it.”

Many teachers at the school are still on “action short of strike action” in which they carry out only basic teaching duties.

They say they are taking the action in a dispute over working conditions at the school, staffing levels, noncompliance with contractual provisions and the headteacher’s management of the school.

NASUWT represents the majority of the teaching staff at the school and 49 teachers are understood to be involved in the ongoing industrial action.

A spokesman for Hartlepool Borough Council said: “As the college has foundation status, these matters are the responsibility of the college and its governors rather than the council.

“Naturally, the council is providing whatever support it can to help resolve the situation and keep any disruption to students and parents to a minimum.”