Sixth form college staff take to the picket line

Teachers at three sixth form colleges across Sussex are set to begin the first of three one-day strikes over pay.

Around 8,000 students at Varndean College, Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College (BHASVIC), and Collyer's in Horsham will all be affected by the National Education Union (NEU) action on Thursday.

Staff at 32 colleges across England are walking out in a dispute over cuts to their pay and funding in comparison to maintained schools, the union said.

A Department for Education spokesperson said “sixth form colleges are responsible for the setting of appropriate pay for their workforce and for managing their own industrial relations".

The NEU won a 97% vote in favour of strike action by its members.

It pointed to the anomaly that funding for the 2024 teacher pay award of 5.5% has not been given to sixth form colleges. 

A union spokesperson said: "This means that colleges who have seen their funding cut in real terms year after year, will either be unable to fund the same pay rise as other teachers or face unacceptable cuts to their budgets."

The NEU said it expected most teaching staff would be involved in the strike, with two further days of action planned for 3-4 December.

BHASVIC said that on each of the three strike days onsite lessons have been cancelled.

It added that students would be able to access some areas of the campus such as the library, main hall and canteen to continue their independent studies.

Principal William Baldwin said: "Strike action is always a last resort, particularly for our staff who are singularly dedicated to the success of all our students.

"However, the fact that this new government have snubbed college staff and not awarded them a pay rise is unforgivable."

A Department for Education statement said: “The October budget provided an additional £300m revenue funding for further education to ensure young people are developing the skills this country needs.

"The department will set out in due course how this funding will be distributed.”