TEACHERS are refusing to teach a 15-year-old boy until he gives the names of the members of a gang which beat up two school cleaners.

Staff at Huntington School made the unanimous decision to stop teaching the teenager after he was spotted with two other youths who came on to the school grounds after hours, and attacked two male cleaners.

The two cleaners, both in their 50s, went out to disperse youths who were on bikes and they were attacked. One of the men was hit from behind, receiving cuts and bruises to his head which needed hospital treatment.

The youths, who were wearing scarves covering their faces, went on to punch and kick the men when they were on the ground.

Head teacher Chris Bridge said the boy had been asked by staff and his mother to give up the names of the other members of the gang, but he refused point blank.

He said: "We want it to be known as an entire staff that we are appalled at this attack and, while we recognise the Huntington School student took no part in it, we believe that he has an absolute duty to hand over the names of the people he was with to the police.

"Until he does so, we will refuse to teach him."

The attack happened at 5.25pm on Thursday, and the two other youths are not believed to be Huntington School pupils.

Mr Bridge, has 15 years of experience as a head teacher, and before he came to the 1,510-pupil Huntington School eight years ago, taught at a school in Leeds.

He said in all that time he had never seen an incident as serious as this.

Mr Bridge said: "These are two long-serving members of staff, and they are clearly very shaken by what happened - as is the entire school.

"If we let these things just happen with no punishment, the place will be lawless."

Although the boy is still attending school, he has been excluded from lessons with the rest of his year group, and is doing supervised work.

A spokesman for York Police said no arrests had been made, and witnesses should phone 0845 6060247.

PC Chris Poole, of York Police, said: "This was a particularly vicious and cowardly attack, which occurred after an employee turned his back on a group of youths.

"He was kicked about the body while on the floor.

"We would urge anyone who might know the identity of the group to come forward and assist with this investigation."

Updated: 14:13 Thursday, January 19, 2006