Further strike action will be taken by teachers in seven sixth form colleges in the South East, including Barton Peveril, Itchen and Peter Symonds, later this week. 

They will walk out once again on Friday (December 13) in a dispute over pay.

Around 2,000 National Education Union teacher members across 32 non-academised sixth form colleges in England are taking action.

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Pickets will be held between 8am and 9am as students arrive for learning.

Teachers believe they have been unjustly treated by the Government, who have included teachers at academised sixth forms in their guaranteed pay award of 5.5 per cent.

They hope to receive an above-inflation pay award consistent with others from their profession at academised colleges and will continue to strike into the new year if no resolution is found.

(Image: PA / Ben Whitley)

Phil Clarke, South East Regional Secretary of the National Education Union, said: "The exceptionally strong turnout for the strike action on November 28 and December 3 and 4 should have been a wake-up call to Government that our members will not back down on this issue.

"It is simply unjust that teachers in non-academised sixth form colleges are not being guaranteed the funding for a comparable pay award to the 5.5 per cent pay deal seen elsewhere in academised sixth form colleges and schools.

"They do the same job with the same commitment and the same importance. We will never accept a two-tier workforce, and our members must have the same pay.

"The responsibility for these strikes lies with Government not teachers. No teacher wants to be taking strike action. They want to be in classrooms doing what they do best: teaching. We remain as always willing to resolve this dispute with Government. However, in the face of yet more silence our members will continue with their action.

"Government needs to recognise this absurd situation needs to end and that they must quickly address this inexcusable pay divide. Let there be no doubt the strike action will continue into the New Year unless sense prevails, and our members are given the pay they deserve."

Further strike action is planned for January 7, 8 and 9.