In ballots of teachers in sixth form colleges, NASUWT –
the Teachers' Union, has today announced that members in
23 sixth form colleges have voted in support of strike action
and/or action short of strike action in their disputes over
teachers' pay.
The Union is in dispute with individual college employers and
with the sixth form colleges association over their failure to
deliver a 5.5% pay award for 2024-25 backdated to September 2024.
As a result of the NASUWT's decision to ballot members working in
sixth form college academies, the employers have confirmed that a
5.5% pay award backdated to September 2024 will now be paid to
all teachers. Once the pay awards are implemented, the NASUWT's
disputes in individual sixth form college academies will be
resolved.
However, where employers of teachers working in non-academy sixth
form colleges do not commit to paying in full a 5.5% award
backdated to September 2024, NASUWT remains in dispute and
members will take industrial action having voted in support with
a turnout of 56%.
NASUWT has identified significant levels of funding available to
sixth form colleges with around £500 million in reserves. In
April 2025, colleges willadditionally receive a share of £50
million additional funding.
Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary,
said:
“Whilst we welcome the decision of sixth form college academy
employers to pay in full a 5.5% pay award backdated to September
2024, it is simply unacceptable to expect teachers working in
non-academy colleges to be paid less for doing the same job.
“NASUWT members across England are sending a clear message to
their employers that they expect to be treated fairly and
equally.
“All sixth form college employers have the flexibility to use
their existing funds, reserves and additional funding allocations
due in April this year to deliver the 5.5% backdated award in
full. There is simply no excuse and no justification for any
teacher to be denied a fair and equitable pay award.
“We are today giving notice to college employers that they can
avoid industrial action where they agree to provide teachers with
the 5.5% backdated pay award to which they are entitled.”
