UP to 2,000 sixth-form teachers across England walked out today, demanding the same pay rises given to staff at other schools.

National Education Union (NEU) members from 32 non-academised sixth-form colleges staged pickets outside their schools, with many gathering later for a rally outside the Department for Education (DfE) headquarters in London.

It comes after the Labour government announced in July that teachers in England will receive a fully funded 5.5 per cent pay rise — but sixth forms without academy status have been excluded.

The teachers will walk out again on Tuesday and Wednesday unless the government provides a resolution to the dispute, the NEU warned. 

NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede said: “Government needs to resolve this matter for the benefit of our members and all teachers who work in non-academised colleges. 

“There needs to be no doubt that failure to do so will result in further action. 

He added: “We stand willing to find a resolution to our dispute, but our members will not hesitate to fight on if government continue to avoid responsibility for the situation.”

Colleges in Manchester, London, Leeds, Birmingham and Bristol are among the schools taking part in the action. 

Bill Watkin, chief executive of the Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA), said: “The government could avoid the disruption to young people’s education that will be caused by this strike action by revisiting its decision to fund a pay award for staff in schools but not colleges.

“SFCA took the decision in September to seek a judicial review of this decision, and we will continue to pursue this legal action vigorously.

“College staff and students are suffering because of this illogical and, we believe, unlawful decision.”

The DfE said the Budget provided an additional £300 million funding for further education.