A DEPUTY head whose struggle with severe allergies was as compelling as his patience with wayward teenagers on Channel 4’s Educating Yorkshire is speaking at Teesside University.

Michael Steer will talk of his passion for education at an alumni event for graduates working in the teaching profession.

The deputy head at Thornhill Community Academy, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, teaches maths as well as having responsibility for curriculum and progress for the secondary school.

In the programme, he often wore gloves in a bid to avoid suffering an allergic reaction to red ink, smartboards, plastic chairs, computer screens, rulers, glue sticks, folders and marker pens.

Despite Mr Steer’s deteriorating health he refused to get hospital treatment until an unmotivated group of Year 11 teenagers had sat their maths GCSE exams.

The former banker voiced his disdain for Education Secretary, Michael Gove, at the Royal Television Society Awards last month in his acceptance speech after picking up the prize for best documentary series.

The alumni reunion is at the university campus in Middlesbrough from 6pm to 9pm on Thursday, April 24.

Also due to speak is former head teacher and Ofsted inspector, Rosemary Campbell-Stephens, who has over 30 years of experience within the education sector and dyslexia specialist and Teesside University education subject group leader, Sharon Powell.

Places are free of charge, limited initially to Teesside University alumni and their guests with a waiting list for anyone else interested in attending. Places must be booked by calling Marika Bingham on 01642 738315 or alumni.office@tees.ac.uk.