Nearly 50 teachers will begin industrial action next week over plans to turn Prince Henry’s Grammar School into an academy.

Teachers’ union NASUWT says a ballot of 48 members at the Otley school to take continuous action, short of a strike, came out “overwhelmingly” in favour.

Prince Henry’s, which this week held a stormy public meeting about its controversial academy proposals, was notified about the decision on Tuesday.

The union says teachers are taking the action – which will see them sticking to core duties – to protect their jobs and fight the switch to an academy.

But headteacher Janet Sheriff said she was disappointed the action was being taken before any final decision about academy status had been made.

General secretary of Leeds NASUWT, Steve Thompson, said: “Members have been balloted and have overwhelmingly voted to take industrial action to protect their jobs and try to prevent the conversion to academy status."

Read more in the Wharfedale Observer.