South Yorkshire sixth form colleges to demand more funding for further education during strike action

NEU members at Longley Park Sixth Form College will take part in the national day of strike action

Staff at a number of sixth form colleges across South Yorkshire will take part in strike action to defend their pay, working conditions and employment and demand more funding for their students.

Members of the National Education Union (NEU) working at both Longley Park Sixth Form College, in Sheffield, and Thomas Rotherham College, in Rotherham, will strike today Wednesday, November 20, over cuts to 16-19 education funding that they say have been ‘deeper and have gone on for longer than any other school sector.’

Funding for sixth forms and further education colleges in England has been slashed by almost 16 per cent since the start of the decade, according to a report published by the Education Policy Institute earlier this year.

School road closure in Sheffield hailed a success

Currently, there is a £700 million shortfall in funding for Post 16 Education and both teaching staff numbers and support staff posts have fallen due to the cuts.

Meanwhile, student numbers have continued to rise, something the NEU says is not only putting the future of sixth form colleges under serious threat but is also causing student’s education to suffer.

Duncan Blackie of the National Education Union said the fact that staff are striking will send a ‘very clear’ message to the Government.

He said: “Each day they see the effects of shameful cuts to 16-19 funding, which have gone on much longer and much deeper than in any other school sector.

“In this election we are arguing the case for education. With today’s strike, members are amplifying that message. They are telling Government and the general public that Sixth Form Colleges are on their knees. Serious investment is needed urgently to ensure that it can remain the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the education sector. Meeting the £700m shortfall for Post-16 would be a good start.

“The public are not easily fooled by warm words and empty promises. They will look closely at manifestos and carefully weigh up the education pledges of each party. They know that if you value education, you must vote for education.”

Longley Park Sixth Form College was one of 23 other further education providers across the country to take part in similar strikes on October 17 and November 5.

They will be joined by nine additional UK colleges, including Thomas Rotherham College, for the strike action tomorrow.