TEACHERS striking over pay sang a Christmas carol outside Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s constituency office in Leeds today.

National Education Union (NEU) general secretary Daniel Kebede joined about 60 teachers and supporters who gathered to listen to speeches and sing the strikers’ version of The 12 Days Of Christmas.

The action marked the fourth one-day strike across England as part of a pay dispute, with some 2,000 NEU members taking part across the country.

In July, the government announced that teachers and leaders in England would receive a fully funded 5.5 per cent pay rise this year.

Although sixth form colleges with academy status have been guaranteed funding to implement the pay award, this is not the case for those which have not become academies, the union said.

Mr Kebede told the rally: “They’re going into Christmas with a 0 per cent pay award. This is easily rectified by government.

“We think it could have been an honest mistake. However, they have not so far heeded our calls.

“We are are hoping the government will begin to listen because, of course, we have more days planned in January,which we really want to avoid — and avoid it we must.

“This is a no-brainer. It’s small beer to correct — about £15 million of funding is required.”

The Sixth Form Colleges Association is seeking a judicial review of the government’s decision to give funding to schools for the 5.5 per cent pay rise for teachers but not to colleges.

The Department for Education said: “Sixth form colleges are responsible for the setting of appropriate pay for their workforce and for managing their own industrial relations.”