The Sixth Form Bolton among those affected by strike action

Members of the National Education Union (NEU) are demanding that sixth form teachers get the same pay rise offered to teachers at schools and academies sixth form colleges.

Jennifer Firth, NEU rep for the college and History and Law teacher, said: “We don’t want to be on strike, we want to be in there teaching classes – it’s a difficult decision, especially around Christmas time.

“We’re all out here to strike because the government has given a 5.5 per cent pay rise to teachers – but not in sixth forms.

“We’re all teachers, so why do we not get the pay rise?”

The Government announced in July that teachers in England will receive a fully funded 5.5 per cent pay rise this year.

This applies to academised sixth form colleges, and sixth forms attached to a school – but not standalone sixth form colleges which aren’t academies.

Robert Poole, Assistant District Secretary for Bolton NEU, said: "The Government's refusal to implement pay rises for non-academised sixth form college teachers is deeply unfair and creates a two-tier system.

"We had hoped that a change of government would see an improvement in industrial relations but unfortunately, despite our repeated efforts, they have refused to engage with us in a meaningful way.

"As always this struggle is not just for pay but a demand for our government to take seriously their responsibility to our young people and to guarantee a properly funded education for all."

Melody Ramsom, who teaches psychology, said: “It’s hard enough with retention of teachers, if people know that they can get the same job at another sixth form, but for more money – it’s going to happen isn’t it?

“Everyone’s already struggling as it is.

“It’s not about having more it’s about equality and pay justice. We just want what other colleagues, other teachers, have been rewarded.”

In September, the NEU opened a ballot for strike action among its 2,000 members across 40 sixth form colleges in England.

With a turnout of 62 per cent , 97 per cent voted in favour of strike action.

Today marks the first of three days of action, with strikes planned for December 3 and 4 unless the Government resolves the dispute.

Jennifer Firth (left), NEU rep for The Sixth Form Bolton and History and Law teacher and Melody Ramsom (right), Psychology teacher on the picket line (Image: Newsquest) Ms Firth said: “What happens is that they’re at risk of creating a two-tier education system.

“It’s insulting, isn’t it? We do the same job as a teacher in a sixth form at a school but we aren’t getting the same amount of pay, which isn’t fair.

“It’s already hard enough to recruit as it is, why would a teacher come and work here when they could get more money at a school?

“That’s obviously going to have an effect on the students because we can’t retain staff, we can’t recruit them in the first place.

“It’s all about them at the end of the day.

“I know people always think it’s just about pay, it’s all about teachers – but at the end of the day, it’s about the students.

“We want them to have a quality experience which they can only get if the government fund us and that’s what it’s all about.”

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According to the NEU, sixth form college teachers’ pay has dropped by 29.5 per cent in real terms since 2010 and college funding has fallen by 20 per cent.

Ms Firth said: “Make it fair – fund the schools, fund the colleges, fund the future.

“Because you know, students are the future of the country.

“It’s all about the knock on effect that it will eventually have on the economy.

“If we’re not educating the students then that surely is going to have a knock on effect on the economy.

“So it’s funding schools and colleges, funding the economy, essentially.

“It’s not about more it’s about the same – why do we not get the same?

Sixth form college students could face more disruption next week as hundreds of NEU members are also due to strike on Tuesday and Wednesday – unless the Government provides a resolution to the dispute.

A DfE spokesperson said: “Ensuring people have the skills they need for the future is crucial to this Government’s number one mission to grow the economy.

“We recognise the vital role that further education, including sixth form colleges, play in this.

“Sixth form colleges are responsible for the setting of appropriate pay for their workforce and for managing their own industrial relations.

“The October Budget provided an additional £300 million 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.”