'We'd much rather be inside in the warm teaching!' Shrewsbury college workers strike over 'two-tier' sixth form pay rise

Staff at Shrewsbury Colleges Group were on strike outside the English Bridge Campus in the town this morning, Thursday (January 9).

The strike has been triggered by the Government's decision over pay rises offered to sixth form staff.

Last year, Bridget Phillipson awarded teachers in primary and secondary schools an above-inflation pay deal, as recommended by the pay review body - with an additional £1.2bn given by the Government to help fund the increase.

But, while academy sixth form academies and schools have been included within the Government’s guaranteed funding for the 5.5 per cent pay rise, this has not been the case for sixth form colleges.

Speaking from the picket line this morning the teachers said: "'We would much rather be inside in the warm teaching!"

John Boken, National Education Union district secretary, said: "I think basically the Government have made a silly mistake.

"They haven't thought through the situation, and they haven't thought through how the education system works with sixth form colleges and have made a very silly error, and because they want to save some embarrassment they are not going to change on their decision, and just very slowly bit by bit negotiate with us over a period of time.

"And it is incredibly silly because at the end of the day all they have to do is make a very quick decision, say 'yeah, alright, we will give you 5.5per cent' and everyone goes back to the classrooms, back to teaching the students where they want to be."

Peter Grue, a computer science teacher, warned the situation would only serve to harm students in the long term.

He said: "The worst thing as a result of this is it is just going to drive teachers within the sixth form sector away from this sector so it will have long term consequences for students.

"We don't want to affect the educational lives of our students. A lot of us put in extra work for our students which is unpaid - but this has clearly been the last straw."

Speaking on the picket line, Steve Bradfield said it was simply about being fair.

He said: "It's all about fairness, isn't it? Every other teacher in the country is getting 5.5 per cent from September, we should get the same, it is as simple as that."

Another added: "We are teaching the same courses, the same qualifications to the same age of students but we are not being given pay parity, it is really unfair."

James Staniforth, principal of Shrewsbury Colleges Group, said he supported the principle of the action over the Government's 'irrational decision' - but could not back anything that disadvantaged students.

He said: "The strike action by the NEU is against the Secretary of State and demands a fully funded pay award.

"The action is not directed at the college. Our position as a college remains the same. In principle, we support paying the college’s teachers and support staff the same 5.5 per cent pay award that has been awarded to teachers who work in schools and academy colleges.

"These schools and academies have received an additional £1.1 billion in funding from the Department of Education to make the pay award.

"Designated sixth form colleges like Shrewsbury Colleges Group have received no additional funding.

"However, we do not condone any action that is detrimental to our students.

"We also consider that strike action in 32 colleges scattered around the country is unlikely to influence the Secretary of State.

"We are supportive of the actions of our professional association, the Sixth Form College Association, which has taken the Government to a judicial review over the irrational decision to fund some colleges and not others."

He continued: "Thank you to everybody who has ensured that the impact of the previous strikes on our students has been minimised."