Teachers at a Cambridge sixth form college will go on strike this week as part of a wider national dispute with the Department for Education.  

Staff who are members of the National Education Union at Hills Road Sixth Form College will walk out on Thursday (November 28).  

This is the first of three scheduled strike days across England. The next two dates are December 3 and 4.  

The union says their dispute centres around a 5.5 per cent pay award for teachers from the government.  

Whilst academised sixth form colleges have been included within the guaranteed funding for the scheme, the NEU says this has not been the case for members at non-academised sixth forms.  

More than 2,000 teachers from 32 sixth form colleges across the country will be participating in the action.  

The NEU – which is the country’s largest education union – says their members are calling on the government to ensure they receive an above-inflation pay which is consistent with the rest of the profession.  

Paul McLaughlin, Regional Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “No teacher wants to take strike action, and none do so lightly.  

“The NEU has made every effort to press the case with government to resolve our dispute through guaranteeing a fully-funded fair pay award for every college.  

“This has been a serious oversight that adversely affects our members working in non-academised colleges.  

“There can be no justification for continuing to fail them.” 

He added: “The government must put this right, and do so urgently. Pay justice means a fair, above-inflation pay award for all.”  

Helen Brook, Cambridgeshire NEU branch secretary, described the situation as “madness”.

She said: “... through oversight or neglect, the government has failed to guarantee this pay rise to our non-academised college members.  

“Left with no other option they will strike to ensure that they receive a fair settlement and are not left abandoned.” 

Meanwhile, the Department for Education, says the government is not responsible for setting or recommending pay in further education.  

A 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 £300m 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.” 

Hills Road has also been approached for comment.